Many hadiths indicate the existence of a period when the Qur’an’s values will pervade

Earth. This period, known as the Golden Age, will last for more than half a century and,
in many ways, will resemble the Blessed Period of our Prophet (saas). We call this
period the Golden Age due to our Prophet’s (saas) Paradise-like depictions of it. It will
be marked by the abundance of every type of goods and crops, the establishment of
security, justice, peace, and happiness; and the use of advanced technology for
humanity’s comfort, ease, joy, and peace. No one will be in need, for all goods and
services will be available to satisfy all people’s material needs. Many hadiths say that
“weapons will be silenced,” and thus herald a world filled with peace. In this book, the
environment in which people will live in the Golden Age and the magnificent beauties
people will experience are told with relevant quotations from the Qur'an.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author, who writes under the pen-name Harun Yahya, was born in Ankara
in 1956. He studied arts at Istanbul's Mimar Sinan University, and philosophy
at Istanbul University. Since the 1980s, the author has published many books
on political, faith-related and scientific issues. Greatly appreciated all around
the world, these works have been instrumental in helping many to return their
faith in Allah, and, in many others, to gain a deeper insight into their faith.
Harun Yahya's books appeal to all kinds of readers, regardless of their age,
race, or nationality, for they focus on one objective: to broaden the readers’ perspective by
encouraging them to think about a number of critical issues, such as the existence of Allah and His
unity, and to live by the values He prescribed for them.
 About The Author
Now writing under the pen-name of HARUN YAHYA, he was born
in Ankara in 1956. Having completed his primary and secondary educa-
tion in Ankara, he studied arts at Istanbul's Mimar Sinan University and
philosophy at Istanbul University. Since the 1980s, he has published
many books on political, scientific, and faith-related issues. Harun Yahya
is well-known as the author of important works disclosing the imposture
of evolutionists, their invalid claims, and the dark liaisons between
Darwinism and such bloody ideologies as fascism and communism.
His pen-name is a composite of the names Harun (Aaron) and Yahya
(John), in memory of the two esteemed Prophets who fought against
their people's lack of faith. The Prophet's seal on the his books' covers is
symbolic and is linked to the their contents. It represents the Qur'an (the
final scripture) and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), last of
the prophets. Under the guidance of the Qur'an and the Sunnah (teach-
ings of the Prophet), the author makes it his purpose to disprove each
fundamental tenet of godless ideologies and to have the "last word," so
as to completely silence the objections raised against religion. He uses the
seal of the final Prophet, who attained ultimate wisdom and moral per-
fection, as a sign of his intention to offer the last word.
All of Harun Yahya's works share one single goal: to convey the Qur'
an's message, encourage readers to consider basic faith-related issues
such as Allah's Existence and Unity and the hereafter; and to expose god-
less systems' feeble foundations and perverted ideologies.
Harun Yahya enjoys a wide readership in many countries, from India
to America, England to Indonesia, Poland to Bosnia, and Spain to Brazil.
Some of his books are available in English, French, German, Spanish,
Italian, Portuguese, Urdu, Arabic, Albanian, Russian, Serbo-Croat
(Bosnian), Polish, Malay, Uygur Turkish, and Indonesian.
Greatly appreciated all around the world, these works have been in-
strumental in many people recovering faith in Allah and gaining deeper
insights into their faith. His books' wisdom and sincerity, together with a
distinct style that's easy to understand, directly affect anyone who reads
them. Those who seriously consider these books, can no longer advocate
atheism or any other perverted ideology or materialistic philosophy,
since these books are characterized by rapid effectiveness, definite re-
sults, and irrefutability. Even if they continue to do so, it will be only a
sentimental insistence, since these books refute such ideologies from
their very foundations. All contemporary movements of denial are now
ideologically defeated, thanks to the books written by Harun Yahya.
This is no doubt a result of the Qur'an's wisdom and lucidity. The au-
thor modestly intends to serve as a means in humanity's search for
Allah's right path. No material gain is sought in the publication of these
works.
Those who encourage others to read these books, to open their minds
and hearts and guide them to become more devoted servants of Allah,
render an invaluable service.
Meanwhile, it would only be a waste of time and energy to propagate
other books that create confusion in people's minds, lead them into ideo-
logical chaos, and that clearly have no strong and precise effects in re-
moving the doubts in people's hearts, as also verified from previous
experience. It is impossible for books devised to emphasize the author's
literary power rather than the noble goal of saving people from loss of
faith, to have such a great effect. Those who doubt this can readily see
that the sole aim of Harun Yahya's books is to overcome disbelief and to
disseminate the Qur'an's moral values. The success and impact of this
service are manifested in the readers' conviction.
One point should be kept in mind: The main reason for the continuing
cruelty, conflict, and other ordeals endured by the vast majority of people
is the ideological prevalence of disbelief. This can be ended only with the
ideological defeat of disbelief and by conveying the wonders of creation
and Qur'anic morality so that people can live by it. Considering the state
of the world today, leading into a downward spiral of violence, corrup-
tion and conflict, clearly this service must be provided speedily and effec-
tively, or it may be too late.
In this effort, the books of Harun Yahya assume a leading role. By the
will of Allah, these books will be a means through which people in the
twentyfirst century will attain the peace, justice, and happiness promised
in the Qur'an.
 © A.S. Noordeen

First Published 1424/2003

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-
copying, recording or otherwise without written permission from the publisher.

Edited by Jay Willoughby

ISBN 983-065-168-1

Published by
A.S. NOORDEEN
G.P.O.Box 10066,
50704 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 40236003
Fax: 40213675
e-mail: asnoordeen@yahoo.com
e-mail: holybook@tm.net.my
www.asnislamicbooks.com

Abbreviations used:
(saas - sall-Allahu 'alyahi wa sallam): May Allah bless him and grant him peace (fol-
lowing a reference to the Prophet Muhammad)
(as - 'alayhi's-salam): Peace be upon him (following a reference to the prophets or an-
gels)

Printed by
Percetakan Zafar Sdn. Bhd.
Kuala Lumpur

All translations from the Qur'an are from The Noble Qur'an: a New Rendering of
its Meaning in English by Hajj Abdalhaqq and Aisha Bewley. Published by Bookwork,
Norwich, UK. 1420 CE/1999 AH.

Website: www.harunyahya.com
E-mail: info@harunyahya.com
 The
Golden Age
 To The Reader
•
A
special chapter is assigned to the collapse of the theory of evolution because this the-
ory constitutes the basis of all anti-spiritual philosophies. Since Darwinism rejects
the fact of creation—and therefore, Allah's Existence—over the last 140 years it has
caused many people to abandon their faith or fall into doubt. It is therefore an im-
perative service, a very important duty to show everyone that this theory is a decep-
tion. Since some readers may find the chance to read only one of our book, we think
it appropriate to devote a chapter to summarize this subject.
• All the author's books explain faith-related issues in light of Qur'anic verses,
and invite readers to learn Allah's words and to live by them. All the subjects con-
cerning Allah's verses are explained so as to leave no doubt or room for questions in
the reader's mind. The books' sincere, plain, and fluent style ensure that everyone of
every age and from every social group can easily understand them. Thanks to their
effective, lucid narrative, they can be read at a one sitting. Even those who rigor-
ously reject spirituality are influenced by the facts these books document and cannot
refute the truthfulness of their contents.
• This and all the other books by the author can be read individually, or dis-
cussed in a group. Readers eager to profit from the books will find discussion very
useful, letting them relate their reflections and experiences to one another.
• In addition, it will be a great service to Islam to contribute to the publication
and reading of these books, written solely for the pleasure of Allah. The author's
books are all extremely convincing. For this reason, to communicate true religion to
others, one of the most effective methods is encouraging them to read these books.
• We hope the reader will look through the reviews of his other books at the back
of this book. His rich source material on faith-related issues is very useful, and a
pleasure to read.
• In these books, unlike some other books, you will not find the author's personal
views, explanations based on dubious sources, styles that are unobservant of the re-
spect and reverence due to sacred subjects, nor hopeless, pessimistic arguments that
create doubts in the mind and deviations in the heart.
 The
Golden Age

Harun Yahya
August, 2003
 Allah calls to the
Abode of Peace and
guides whom He wills to a
straight path. Those who do
good will have the best and
more! Neither dust nor debase-
ment will darken their faces.
They are the Companions of
Paradise, remaining in it
timelessly, forever.
(Surah Yunus: 25-26)
 Contents
Introduction 10
The Golden Age 14
Conclusion 92
The Deception of Evolution 94
 he End Times (or the Last Days) may not be a familiar

T concept to many people. Therefore, we first give a

brief explanation of it. The End Times means "the last
era." According to Islamic literature, this period of time is close to
Doomsday, during which we will witness the prevalence of the
Qur'an's morality and widespread adherence to religious values.
Towards the end of this period, all conditions that ensure a peace-
ful and safe life will be established, and the misery that marked the
previous periods will be replaced will wealth, abundance, and justice.
All forms of immorality, fraud, and degeneration will end. This is the
blessed period, marked by Islamic morality, for which all people of
faith have longed for centuries.
The Hadith literature and the works of Muslim scholars contain
extensive references to this period. These descriptions indicate that,
following great corruption and outrage, Earth will enter upon a pe-
riod of salvation characterized by bounty and blessings due to the
prevalence of true religion. In this period, science, medicine, and tech-
nology will advance to a unprecedented degree and provide exten-
sive benefits humanity, and the understanding of art will flourish in
an unprecedented way.
During the early phases of the End Times, moral degeneration will
become all-pervasive due to the influence of some philosophical sys-
tems such as atheism, materialism and racism. Humanity will forget
the reason for its existence and thus enter the downward spiral of
spiritual purposelessness and moral degeneration. Great disasters
will occur one after another. Wars and insurmountable trouble will
cause humanity to seek the answer to the question: "Is there a way
out?" But Allah will save people from this great turmoil and enable
them to enter a blessed period. Actually, such a blessed period applies
to each community at all times, provided its members abide by the
Qur'an's morality. Allah has always granted great blessings to His ser-
vants who, out of their awe and consciousness of Him, comply metic-
ulously with His commands. He causes such people to live in
abundance.

11
 THE GOLDEN AGE

What we know about the End Times comes from our Prophet's
(saas) words and the works of Muslim scholars. There is no reason to
doubt the authenticity of these resources, for the Hadith literature
provides detailed descriptions about this period. The facts that such
detailed accounts were provided 14 centuries ago and that all these
happenings occurred one after another within a particular period of
time is a miracle in itself, and thereby removes any misgivings re-
garding the origin of these words.
Indeed, since Allah gives us some information related to the End
Times, such as the global prevalence of the Qur'an's morality or Jesus'
second coming to Earth, we have no reason to doubt its accuracy. In
the following verse, Allah gives the good news that the Qur'an's
morality will pervade Earth:
Allah has promised those of you who believe and do right actions
that He will make them successors in the land, as He made those be-
fore them successors, and will firmly establish for them their reli-
gion, with which He is pleased, and give them, in place of their fear,
security. "They worship Me, not associating anything with Me."
Any who are unbelievers after that, such people are deviators.
(Surat an-Nur: 55)

Signs That the Qur'an's Values Will Prevail

Many verses refer to the global prevalence of the Qur'an's values in
the Golden Age, the latter years of the End Times. These verses have great
parallels with our Prophet's (saas) sayings related to the Golden Age.
Clearly, this prevalence is a sign of the Golden Age described by our
Prophet (saas), for such an event has not occurred yet. Some verses about
how this phenomenon will come about are as follows:
Allah has written, "I will be victorious, I and and My Messengers."
Allah is Most Strong, Almighty. (Surat al-Mujadala: 21)
They desire to extinguish Allah's Light with their mouths, but Allah
will perfect His Light, though the unbelievers hate it. He sent His
Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth to exalt it over

12
 HARUN YAHYA

every other religion, though the idolaters hate it. (Surat as-Saff: 8-9)
They desire to extinguish Allah's Light with their mouths. But
Allah refuses to do other than perfect His Light, even though the
unbelievers detest it. He sent His Messenger with guidance and the
Religion of Truth to exalt it over every other religion, even though
the idolaters detest it. (Surat at-Tawba: 32-33)
Allah confirms the Truth by His words, even though the evildoers
hate it. (Surah Yunus: 82)
Those before them planned, but all planning belongs to Allah. He
knows what each soul earns, and the unbelievers will soon know
who has the Ultimate Abode. (Surat ar-Ra'd: 42)
We destroyed generations before you when they did wrong. Their
Messengers brought them the Clear Signs, but they were never
going to have faith. That is how We repay evildoers. Then We ap-
pointed you after them to be successors on the earth so We might
observe how you would act. (Surah Yunus: 13-14)
The Qur'an relates the following divine law in many of its verses:
Those who have a pure faith in Allah and do not ascribe partners to
Him will inherit the earth. Some examples are the following:
We wrote down in the Zabur, after the Reminder came: "My right-
eous servants will inherit the earth." (Surat al-Anbiya': 105)
We will leave you the land to live in after them. That is the reward of
those who fear My station and fear My threat. They asked for
Allah's victory, and every obdurate tyrant failed. (Surah Ibrahim:
14-15)
Musa said to his people: "Seek help in Allah and be steadfast. Earth
belongs to Allah. He bequeaths it to any of His servants He wills.
The successful outcome is for those who guard against evil." They
said: "We suffered harm before you came to us and after you came to
us." He said: "It may well be that your Lord is going to destroy your
enemy and make you the successors in the land so that He can see
how you behave." (Surat al-A'raf: 128-29)
Rather We hurl truth against falsehood, and it cuts right through
falsehood and causes it to vanish! Woe without end to you for what
you portray! (Surat al-Anbiya': 18)

13
 any hadiths indicate the existence of a period

M when the Qur'an's values will pervade Earth.

This period, known as the Golden Age, will
last for more than half a century and, in many ways, will resemble the
Blessed Period of our Prophet (saas). We call this period the Golden
Age due to our Prophet's (saas) Paradise-like depictions of it. It will be
marked by the abundance of every type of goods and crops, the estab-
lishment of security, justice, peace, and happiness; and the use of ad-
vanced technology for humanity's comfort, ease, joy, and peace. No
one will be in need, for all goods and services will be available to sat-
isfy all people's material needs. Many hadiths say that "weapons will
be silenced," and thus herald a world filled with peace. In the Golden
Age, enemy nations will become brothers and sisters and re-establish
peace, friendship, and love among their leaders and peoples.
Technology will reach its peak, and people will receive its fullest
benefits. Medicine, agriculture, communication, transportation, and
industry will undergo remarkable development, and people will con-
tinuously witness new discoveries. Each discovery will become an
impetus for another and thereby contribute to the overall acceleration
of discoveries.
The arts will flourish, and the broad horizons and deep thinking
granted by faith in Allah will advance all branches of art. Such a spirit
will enable people to produce glamorous works of music, theater, and
painting. According to one hadith, people will be so content that they
will spend their days with no idea as to how time passes and how one
day turns into the next. They will pray to Allah to prolong their lives
in order to receive more benefits from these graces. Another Prophetic
hadith states that "the younger ones wish they were grown-ups, while the
adults wish they were younger… The good become even more good, and the
wicked ones are treated well."1

15
 THE GOLDEN AGE

Unprecedented Abundance
The Golden Age will be a period of great abundance, for each indi-
vidual's material wants will be satisfied according to need.
Technology will produce such an
abundance of goods that hunger will
be eradicated forever and all people
will be provided with the necessities
of life. Earth's wealth will serve hu-
manity, and new agricultural tech-
nologies will lead to an unparalleled Anyone who acts
increase in crop production. People
of faith will receive great rewards for
rightly, male or fe-
every good deed they do, both in this male, being a believer,
world and the Hereafter. Bounty and We will give them a
abundance, which will permeate good life and will rec-
every moment of life, will be a grace
that Allah will grant to those who
ompense them accord-
live by the Qur'an's moral code. ing to the best of
Every good act they do will turn into what they did.
a great fortune. In one verse, Allah
(Surat an-Nahl: 97)
describes the great reward all believ-
ers will receive when they spend for
His good pleasure:
The metaphor of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah
is that of a grain that produces seven ears: in every ear there are a
hundred grains. Allah gives such multiplied increase to whoever
He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. (Surat al-
Baqara: 261)
Many hadiths reveal that there will be an unprecedented abundance
of crops and goods, all of which will be distributed without measure:
During this (period), my ummah (people) will lead a kind of comfortable and
carefree life that they have never known before. (The land) will bring forth its

16
 HARUN YAHYA

yield and will not hold anything back.2

In the last of times there will be a khalifa (successor) who will distribute
wealth without even counting it.3
Then my Ummah, be its members good or wicked, will be blessed with a bless-
ing the like of which they have never heard before. Allah sends them an abun-
dance of rain, the land will produce a great abundance of crops, and
possessions will be commonplace.4
In those years my community will enjoy a time of happiness such as they have
never experienced before. Heaven will send down rain upon them in torrents,
the earth will not withhold any of its plants, and wealth will be available to all.
A man will stand and say, "Give to me, Mahdi!" and he will say, "Take."5
Both the Ummah's good and wicked members will be blessed with a blessing,
the like of which they have never seen before. Despite the abundance of
rain, not a drop will go to waste. The land will grow fruitful and fertile, with-
out demanding a single seed...6
The land will emit the treasures within.7
The land will turn like the silver tray growing vegetation...8

How To Attain Such Bounty

Someone sowing a measure of wheat will find 700 in return ... A person will
scatter a few handfuls of seeds, but will reap 700 handfuls … Despite an
abundance of rain, not a drop will go to waste.9
This hadith refers to an increase in agricultural production that will
occur in the End Times by transitioning to modern agriculture, devel-
oping new production techniques, improving seed stocks, and using
rainwater more efficiently by constructing new dams and ponds.
Indeed in our day, remarkable improvements in technology have
increased both the productivity and quality of field crops. As with all
other forms of technology, rapid developments, especially in genetics,
is causing a revolution in agricultural technology. Without a doubt,
this productivity will continue to grow until it reaches its peak in the
Golden Age.

17
One hadith of our Prophet about the Golden Age is as follows:
During the last days of my community, the Mahdi will emerge. Allah will give him abun-
dant rain and the earth will bring forth its plants and give forth its wealth and herds will
multiply and the community will be huge. (Al-Hakim Hadiths)
 The Golden Age is a time when there will be an abundance of crops and pos-
sessions. This age's advanced technology and science will enable the produc-
tion of high-quality and durable crops.
 THE GOLDEN AGE

The Improvement of Crops

In the End Times, every agricultural development will serve all of
humanity. In our own time, only some groups or societies benefit from
technology, but in the Golden Age everyone, regardless of their ethnic-
ity, age, gender, or language, will enjoy its benefits. No one will enjoy
special privileges, for both rich and poor will have equal access to
these services. No one will suffer from poverty or starve, for opulence
and welfare will mark this era. Technology will ensure the transition
to an agricultural system that secures healthy, tasty, durable, cheap,
and abundant yields. Current scientific developments, especially in
genetics, already provide hints about the nature of these technological
developments and the kind of abundance that they will bring.
Genetics has a vast field of application in food production. Thanks
to genetics, genes that cause abnormalities in the genetic codes (DNA)
of plants can be eliminated, and those that improve plant quality and
durability can be identified. Considering that substantial agricultural
products can be obtained only from quality raw material, these meth-
ods, which ensure the production of plants resistant to salt and tem-
perature extremes, will lead to an agricultural revolution. A plant's
level of protein or vitamin can be increased by injecting DNA pieces
into its cells. The same method can produce plants that are resistant to
pests, herbicides, disease, severe weather conditions, and poor soil.
Genetic studies of seeds seek to minimize anything that might harm a
seed and support a year-round agricultural industry. The finalization
of these studies will bring great prosperity and abundance in agricul-
ture.
In the End Times, the prevailing Qur'anic morality will ensure that
everyone will receive their just share of goods. In fact, these goods
will be so abundant that everyone will receive all that they ask for,
and much more besides. At all times, Allah grants to His servants who
display this moral excellence an abundant life and promises them
great blessings both in this world and beyond. This is related in Surat
an-Nahl:
Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will
give them a good life and recompense them according to the best of

20
 HARUN YAHYA

what they did. (Surat an-Nahl: 97)

Like genetics, scientific researchers are working to produce fruits
and vegetables that can stay fresher longer and field crops that can
thrive in extreme climates. Long-term storage and preservation of
food, as well as eliminating the factors that cause rot and decay, will
be the sign of the abundance that people will experience in the End
Times. Recent breakthroughs in technology and new methods (e.g.,
radiation, high temperature, high pressure, and genetic studies) ren-
der bacteria ineffective and thus make months-long food storage pos-
sible. Gamma or electron radiation, for instance, reduces or eradicates
such disease-producing agents as microbes, bacteria, and nits. Food
that is treated according to such methods become durable and carries
no risk of food poisoning. Furthermore, processed food can maintain
its flavor, freshness, taste, and color in a form very similar to its nat-
ural state and never lose its juice. A radiated strawberry can be safely
stored in a refrigerator for months, and a potato can be kept for an ex-
tended period of time without budding.
Such processes will end waste and ensure the optimum employ-
ment of resources. Such technological developments, which are still at
a very early stage, have only limited applications today. However,
they will be very effective in maintaining the land's abundance in the
End Times. People will be able to allocate resources wisely and mini-
mize waste, and farmers will be able to produce huge amounts of
long-lasting and quality agricultural products.
In the Golden Age, technology will serve humanity, and its bless-
ings will be allocated evenly among all people regardless of ethnicity,
community, and country. Nations that are far from one another, as
well as societies of dissimilar cultures, will benefit from these sources
evenly, and everyone will enjoy a just administration. Adherence to
the Qur'an's morality in its true sense will ensure the maintenance of
this Paradise-like order on Earth. The just administration of sincere
Muslims, who turn to Allah for every deed they perform, will secure
peace and security, as well as continued blessings.

21
Thanks to the
technological
developments
that will occur
in the Golden
Age, seed
quality and ir-
rigation sys-
tems will
improve
greatly. This
way, many
deserts will
become fertile
and crop
yields will in-
crease.
Another benefit of agricul-
tural technology will be
satellites that constantly
monitor agricultural
fields. Aerial photography
will enable the earliest
possible discovery of all
types of potential harm to
crops. Weather condi-
tions, underground water
and mineral resources,
and pests will be moni-
tored by satellites. (Right) In this satellite picture, those
regions invaded by harmful insects are shown in red.

In our day, agriculture through satellite-

monitoring is being implemented in some
American states and has already proved to
be successful.

Genetic studies focus on producing more durable crops containing high level of vitamins.
 THE GOLDEN AGE

Greening the Deserts

Another sign of the End Time's abundance is the greening of the
world's deserts. This development's significance can be better under-
stood if we consider that deserts make up 43 percent of all land. Today,
the constant water supply to deserts makes agricultural production pos-
sible in even most barren locations. Applying technology to deserts will
provide drought-hit countries on the edge of starvation with fertile land.
Computer-monitored irrigation systems that divert water directly
to plant roots and prevent even a single drop of water from going to
waste will allow agricultural production in deserts. Purifying and then
using all forms of water are also important for desert agriculture.
Treated flood and sea water will provide ample amounts of water, form
the basis of agricultural technology, and be a great gain for the coun-
tries' economy. Our Prophet (saas) referred to the productive use of
water, as follows:
Both the good and the evil members of the Ummah will be blessed with a bless-
ing the like of which they will have never heard. Despite the abundance of
rain, not a drop will go waste; the land will become fruitful without a
single seed.10

The High Cost of Living and Poverty Will End

As the Golden Age will be a time of welfare and great wealth, all
people will receive more than they demand. Nothing will be measured
or counted. However, the high cost of living and poverty are the main
features of the earlier periods of the End Times, for the poor will be-
come poorer while the rich will become richer. This feature is also em-
phasized in a hadith, as follows: Poverty will spread.11
Allah sends starvation and poverty to warn people who are far re-
moved from religion. If such people had faith, they would find relief
from the great troubles and hardships that they meet throughout their
lives. Indeed, Allah grants great wealth, happiness, and welfare to
Muslims who have faith in Him and earnestly serve His cause, while
He sends trouble and suffering to unbelievers in return for their disbe-
lief. When people become ungrateful, Allah takes back their blessings

24
 HARUN YAHYA

and tests them with starvation and fear. One verse mentions this
Divine Justice:
Corruption has appeared in both land and sea because of what peo-
ple's own hands have brought about, so that they may taste some-
thing of what they have done, so that hopefully they will turn back.
(Surat ar-Rum: 41)
Allah gives the example of Pharaoh and his people, who were sub-
jected to drought and scarcity of crops because of their ungratefulness.
Allah tested Pharaoh with drought at a time when he had been enjoy-
ing great wealth and possessions:
We seized Pharaoh's people with years of drought and scarcity of
fruits so that hopefully they would pay heed. (Surat al-A'raf: 130)
Throughout the Qur'an, Allah calls attention to these attributes of
disbelieving societies:
Allah makes an example of a city that was safe and at peace, its provi-
sion coming to it plentifully from every side. Then it showed ingrati-
tude for Allah's blessings, so Allah made it wear the robes of hunger
and fear for what it did. (Surat an-Nahl: 112)
Allah reveals the real reason why He makes the unbelievers' lives
troublesome:
But if anyone turns away from My reminder, his life will be a dark
and narrow one … (Surah Ta-Ha: 124)
Those societies that turned away from Messengers' warnings and
insisted upon denial have always encountered great trouble. However,
as the verses and hadiths inform us, sincere Muslims are always re-
warded with great blessings for their faith. In addition to this, our
Prophet (saas) said that his people will live in blessings, especially dur-
ing the Last Days:
A time will come when a person, with his golden alms in his hand, will go
around, finding no one (in need) who is willing to receive the alms.12
Then will my Ummah be blessed, the number of animals will increase
and the land will bear its fruits.13
Definitely possessions will be in abundance then, flowing like water. Yet no
one will (condescend) to take any.14

25
Another sign for the greening of deserts is
the following hadith: "…every piece of land
will be planted" (Al-Isha‘ah li-ashrat al-
sa‘ah, p.255). If we consider that deserts
make up 43 percent of all land, we can better
understand the importance of greening the
deserts in order to feed starving countries.

Computer-monitored irrigation systems
that divert water directly to plant roots and
thus prevent even a single drop of water
from going to waste is one of the technolo-
gies that will allow agricultural production
in deserts. These technologies will be
widely available in the Golden Age.
Hydroponics (growing plants without
soil) is another method for greening
deserts. In the Golden Age, this method
will be very instrumental, especially in
regions with unfavourable climates and
low incomes. This method, which is cur-
rently employed in very few regions, will
make vegetable growing possible even
in the most infertile desert and thus
bring relief to lands suffering from
drought and misery. Aquaponics (grow-
ing plants in water) offers many advan-
tages, for it allows producers full control
over the nutrients that plants need.
Another advantage is that water does
not contain the abundant microbes that
are found in the soil.
 THE GOLDEN AGE

Great Advances In Technology

The technological advances of the twentieth century, especially
during its last quarter, were without historical precedent. Many tech-
nological instruments that were unknown just 100 years ago have be-
come integral parts of our lives. The gap between the technology of the
previous century and of today has reached unimaginable dimensions.
Current developments provide important signs regarding the techno-
logical advances from which people will benefit in the Golden Age.
That age's technological advances will provide great comfort and
ease to people's lives. The time spent at home, at one's job, and in
school will be comfortable, enjoyable, and pleasant. Housework,
shopping, security systems, heating, ventilation, electricity are just a
few of the things that will be monitored by computers. Robots will re-
place human labor in many areas. In their comfortable armchairs,
watching television, people will be able to handle their work through
remote-controlled robots. Scientists predict that housework, instru-
ment maintenance, removing of dust at home will be done by robots,
some as small as nanochips. By Allah's Will, all of these predictions
will come true, and the majority of time-consuming tasks will be ac-
complished by technological instruments.
Technology will present the beauties of the world to people.
Through high-tech television, people will have the privilege to see
and enjoy three-dimensional environments and even to participate in
recreational activities and games. Virtual reality technology will en-
hance learning and provide people with valuable life skills.
The extensive use of computers and Internet technologies will
bring radical changes to education. Home-schooling will be easier
and more involved with the developing virtual reality technologies.
More efficient learning systems, which will rely on gaining personal
experience through virtual reality technologies or the Internet, will re-
place the classical education methods, which are based on memoriza-
tion. Virtual reality is used extensively today in training. For example,
environments that may be hazardous in the real world can be simu-

28
 HARUN YAHYA

lated quite easily by using virtual reality technology. Thanks to this

technology, pilot training, for instance, has become safe. In the Golden
Age, these technologies will be applied from business and planning to
manufacturing and entertainment, and to many diverse business do-
mains.
The radical changes due to appear in education and training in the
Golden Age will benefit entire nations. As is the case with all other
times, those people of the Golden Age who live according to the real
spirit of the Qur'an's moral teachings will attain all of the beauty, com-
fort, and ease that they deserve. They will live amidst abundance.

Advances in Transportation
Advances in transportation will offer comfort and security and
minimize time loss. New highways and high-tech vehicles will be in-
strumental in preventing accidents.
The extensive use of un-
derground transportation
will eliminate traffic conges-
tion. Electricity, solar energy,
or wind power will replace
the air polluting fuel oils
used in vehicles and thus
make cities more livable Among His signs is
places. that He sends the
Supersonic planes, trains, winds bearing good
and other high-tech vehicles news, to give you a
will offer all the comforts one taste of His mercy, and
may need. More importantly, to make the ships run
this technology will serve by His command, and
everyone, and not just a par- to enable you to seek
ticular part of the world's His bounty so that
population. All people will hopefully you will be
have access to the same tech- thankful.
nology, and discrimination (Surat ar-Rum: 46)
will end.

29
 The Pace of Technological Advancement In The End Times
The technological advances witnessed in the last two decades of the twentieth century
were unprecedented in world history. Many technological instruments we had no idea of
even 100 years ago are now integral parts of our lives. Cellular phones, for instance, de-
scribed as a product of "space technology" in the journals of the 1980s, are now the most
ordinary means of communication. These rapid scientific and technological developments
provide clues about the sort of technology that
people will enjoy in the Golden Age.

Until the 1960s, television-related technology

could only produce black and white
televisions. Today, televisions
offer three-dimensional images
and high-quality sound.

Since Alexander
Graham Bell in-
vented the tele-
phone in 1876,
communication
technology has de-
veloped rapidly and
become wide-
spread. The produc-
tion of cellular
phones was a tech-
nological break-
through. The next
big step in commu-
nication technology
is expected to be
video-phones.

The first sound recording was done by

Thomas Edison in 1877. During the last two
decades, sound quality
has attained perfec-
tion in terms of
quality.
 The twentieth century's greatest
breakthrough was computer tech-
nology. There is a tremendous gap
between the first bulky computers
and the modern computers of today.
In many areas, ranging from medi-
cine to education and from science
to agriculture, computers have
changed the course of our lives.

Over the last 140 years

of photography, cam-
eras have evolved into
hundreds of species,
ranging from single-
use pocket cameras to
4x5" studio cameras.
Bridging the gap to
digital imaging took
place during the last
two decades.
(top) In the Golden Age, more efficient learning systems
that rely on gaining personal experience through virtual
reality technologies or the Internet will replace the classi-
cal education methods, which are based on the mere
memorization of learning material.
(bottom) Environments that may be hazardous in the real
world can be simulated using virtual reality technology.
Thanks to this technology, pilot training, for instance, has
become safe. In the Golden
Age, these technologies will be
used in all fields ranging from
business and planning to man-
ufacturing and entertainment.

It will be easier to
notice the flaws
and find solutions
for someone who
is trained in car
manufacturing in
a virtual environ-
ment. Thus, expe-
rience and quality
will replace edu-
cation based on
memorizing.
 Technological advances in
the Golden Age will add
great comfort, ease, and joy
to people's lives. However,
these benefits will not be
confined to a handful of peo-
ple but will be available to all
people.

Employing robots in technology or house-

work will offer great comfort.
 In the Golden Age, tech-
nological advances in
transportation will put
new energy resources to
use. Electricity, solar en-
ergy, or wind power will
replace air-polluting fuel
oils used in vehicles, and
thus will make cities
more livable.

The transition from steam locomo-

tive to supersonic trains has been
very rapid. But in the Golden Age,
aside from speed, security and com-
fort also will gain importance.
The extensive use of
underground trans-
portation will improve
all cities' beauty and
eliminate traffic con-
gestion. As a result,
people will live in
more beautiful and
pleasing cities.
 THE GOLDEN AGE

Advances in Communication
Great advances in communication will provide very rapid com-
munication and information exchange among all people, regard-
less of location. Satellite-based telecommunication networking, in
particular, will provide tremendously rapid communication, and
holographic telephones will introduce a new dimension to com-
munication by projecting a life-size holographic image of the per-
son being called.

Computer and Internet Technology

in Humanity's Service
Computer technologies will surely play a great role in the abun-
dance of blessings. Today, computers are improving life quality in
houses, workplaces, medicine, communication, the arts, and so on.
In the Golden Age, these developments will accelerate in the so-
cioeconomic domain on a global basis and bring more comfort to
humanity.
In the twentieth century, Internet technology opened a new era
by making communication and information sharing almost instan-
taneous. Learning, reading an international organization's reports,
researching in a library, getting news, learning about technological
developments and relevant comments now takes only a few min-
utes. As a result, comprehensive information collection that used
to take long years of research can now be done with a minimum of
effort.
As the Internet has overcome all obstacles to sharing accumu-
lated information, all people and nations can have access to it. The
ever-developing Internet technologies will have more to offer in
the future.
One point deserves a special mention here. At no time in human
history has the world witnessed such rapid development. In par-
ticular, the twentieth century's technological developments have
been unprecedented. Only 100 years ago, no one could have imag-

36
 HARUN YAHYA

ined the world in which we live today. Only 15 or 20 years ago, peo-
ple would have seen the Internet as a very advanced technology
that could only be attained maybe after 100 years. Each of these de-
velopments indicates that humanity is approaching a very impor-
tant time. It appears that the Golden Age will be a glorious time
when people will benefit from all sorts of technology and thousands
of blessings.

Technological Revolution in Energy

The energy age that began with the Industrial Revolution, usu-
ally considered to designate the period of 1750-1830 in Britain,
reached a defining point with the technological developments of the
twentieth century. In the coming 50 years, the world's population is
expected to double and energy consumption to triple. Meanwhile,
according to the best estimations, available oil reserves will meet
humanity's needs for no longer than a century. Natural gas reserves,
on the other hand, will be exhausted within a few decades. These
facts have led scientists to turn their attention to cheaper and read-
ily available energy sources, such as the sun, wind, and water.
Energy production from non-polluting sources is the major de-
velopment of the foreseeable future. For instance, wind power will
make coastal cities, in particular, less dependent on customary en-
ergy supplies and promote economic development by lessening de-
pendency on foreign supplies and thereby increasing the general
welfare. Wind power's non-abating nature and easy-accessibility
have encouraged scientists to focus on producing renewable energy
from wind.
Solar energy is another potential energy source. On an annual
basis, Earth receives an amount of solar energy that amounts to
15,000 times our total current energy consumption. The solar energy
received over a 20-day period equals the world's total energy re-
serves. Therefore, the efficient use of these resources will end our oil
dependency.

37
Thanks to the
Internet, any devel-
opment that occurs
in any part of the world
will be communicated to
all nations. The Internet
will eliminate all problems
related to information sharing.
The advance of science and tech-
nology in the Golden Age will make the
Internet a better means to serve to humanity.

Thanks to fiber optic ca-

bles, the concept of dis-
tance will lose its meaning
in the Golden Age. The
network of fiber optic ca-
bles covering the entire
world will provide rapid in-
formation exchange and
communication to such
an extent that information
filling millions of volumes
of books will be conveyed
to another continent in
less than a second.
 The significance of putting all
energy resources to use is bet-
ter understood if we consider
that the sunlight received by
Earth in only 20 days equals the
world's total energy reserves.

The efficient use of solar energy and

wind power will end depen-
dency on oil. These alterna-
tive sources of energy
will meet all energy
needs in houses,
transportation,
heating, or ap-
pliances.
 THE GOLDEN AGE

Advances in Science
Thinking is essential to recognize the wonders and beauties sur-
rounding us. The Qur'an invites people to ponder so as to see the
signs of Allah encompassing them. This is the only way to appreciate
Allah's superior wisdom and power, which He manifests in living be-
ings. Subtleties concealed in the creation of the heavens, Earth, ani-
mals, plants, and human beings deserve our deep thought. In the
following verses, Allah invites people to think on these subtleties:
He Who created the seven heavens in layers. You will not find any
flaw in the creation of the All-Merciful. Look again—do you see any
gaps? (Surat al-Mulk: 3)
Man has only to look at what he was created from. (Surat at-Tariq: 5)
Have they not looked at the camel—how it was created? And at the
sky—how it was raised up? And at the mountains—how they were
embedded? And at the earth—how it was smoothed out? (Surat al-
Ghashiyya: 17-20)
Complying with Allah's commands, which encourage people to
think, analyze, and research, will open new scientific horizons. These
very developments, which flourish wherever people live according to
the real spirit of the Qur'an's moral teachings, will be evident in the
Golden Age, a time of unprecedented scientific development.
In the Golden Age, the major factor that will enable such scientific de-
velopment will be science's purification from some dogmas and erro-
neous goals. In recent centuries, such bigoted beliefs as materialist
philosophy and Darwinism have impeded scientific progress. Many sci-
entists concentrated their efforts on proving entirely mistaken assump-
tions, and great amounts of effort and time have been wasted. In the
Golden Age, the scientific world will embrace the fact that Allah created
the universe and everything that it contains. This will allow science to be
practiced on sound foundations. Available resources that were used to
support Darwin's fantasies or to produce chemical weapons and nuclear
bombs will be channeled to humanity's service in compliance with

40
 HARUN YAHYA

Allah's consent. Aware that serving humanity will earn Allah's good
pleasure, scientists will engage in more fruitful research.

Developments in Genetics
Each development in the Golden Age will lead to great advances in
medicine. The discovery of the structure of DNA in the mid-twentieth
century opened new horizons in medicine and biology. Similarly, all
scientific and technological developments in the Golden Age will add
momentum to medical studies, minimize errors, shorten the time re-
quired for an accurate diagnosis, and enable patients to receive the
optimum treatment.
Genetics, which will be the science of this new century, will be the
impetus behind medical advances. Studies on the human DNA code
seek to disclose the genetic causes of many diseases. One goal of the
Human Genome Project, originally planned to last for 15 years and
being worked upon by thousands of scientists from more than eight
countries, is to identify the genes in human DNA and thereby uncover
its mysteries. Determining the sequences of human DNA's 3 billion
chemical base pairs, entering this information in databases, and using
the related technologies to serve science will open a new era. The pro-
ject's primary goals are to protect people against disease by altering
the DNA code, predetermining how the body responds to medicines,
and ensuring protection by predetermining every human beings'
weaknesses. Devising medicines solely for an individual's needs, as
well as forming a database of genetic features and a genetic card for a
person, are also on the scientists' agenda. As science can progress only
as far as Allah wills, we should not be worried about such undertak-
ings, as many people are today. Such research either will succeed and
benefit humanity, or fail due to Allah's will.
Thanks to these developments, doctors will be able to detect
minute differences of the same diseases and then use individualized
treatment procedures or techniques. As a result, people living in the
Golden Age will not suffer from maltreatment and feel desperate.
Everyone will immediately receive the appropriate medical assis-

41
 THE GOLDEN AGE

tance, for ideal morality and good conduct complies with the duty to
help patients and save their lives. In the Golden Age, enhancing an indi-
vidual's health and quality of life will be of primary importance.

Advances in Medicine
People guided by the Qur'an's values consider human life to be very
precious. In a society of believers, therefore, people pay great attention to
issues related to human health. Regardless of their status or qualities,
anyone, whether rich or poor, young or old, will receive the treatment he
or she deserves. All solutions will be exhausted, and great sacrifices will
be made to save a person's life, for according to the Qur'an's values, peo-
ple receive great rewards for trying to treat and cure those who are sick so
that they might have healthier and fuller lives.
So We decreed for the tribe of Israel that if someone kills another per-
son—unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corrup-
tion in the earth—it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if
anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all
mankind. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 32)
In compliance with this verse, Muslims in the Golden Age will make
serious efforts to develop and implement workable strategies to promote
quality health care for all and to ensure that patients receive optimal care.

Advances in City Planning

In the twenty-first century, scientists will strive to spread the use of
more efficient technology further afield.
One of today's primary goals is to use computer technology to assist
people with basic day-to-day tasks, tasks that are otherwise unrelated to
technology and thus minimize the labor force. Many technological de-
vices, thought to be limited to science fiction movies only, have already
been incorporated into our lives and started to offer comfort. Maintaining
cities by making use of computer technology, which will change the faces
of cities today immensely, will be instrumental in monitoring infrastruc-
ture systems; handling urgent help needs, traffic, and city planning; and
improving security and health services. People will not waste time by

42
 HARUN YAHYA

waiting in lines to receive public services, for all sorts of administrative in-
formation related to a person will be available in computers.
Thanks to earthquake-resistant technologies, buildings will be able to
survive severe earthquakes. Now, a single intense jolt can reduce an entire
city to heaps of rubble. In the Golden Age, however, both the construction
systems and materials will, by Allah's Will, help buildings withstand in-
tense shakes. In this way, technology will ensure people's security and
make it easier for them to cope with urgent situations.
Due to changes in energy resources, every city will become an energy-
generating unit. In this context, they will rely heavily on wind and solar
power, and especially upon solar reactors for purifying drinking water, and
generating electricity and heat. These renewable energy sources will meet
all of humanity's needs and reduce energy transportation between different
cities and countries. Coastal cities will obtain their energy from water or
wind, thereby ending their problems related to environmental pollution. In
cities, people will grow all kinds of food through hydroponics (growing
plants without soil) and aquaponics (growing plants in water).
Furthermore, there will be great improvements in the way cities look.
Their cleaning and ordering will be maintained via computers, and their
appearance will change, for greening the cities will become a policy. The
congestion, pollution, and chaos dominating our contemporary urban
areas results from our distance from the Qur'an's concept of morality.
When people adhere to the Qur'an, they seek to establish an environ-
ment similar to that of Paradise. They always think about how to im-
prove and better their surroundings, and thank Allah for the great
comfort, relief, and beauty He has granted. In return, they receive more
of the beauties that Allah promises to His servants who give thanks:
And when your Lord announced: "If you are grateful, I will certainly
give you increase, but if you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe."
(Surah Ibrahim: 7)
In another verse, Allah warns the people of `Imran, who lived in a
very beautiful city:
"Eat of your Lord's provision and give thanks to Him: a bountiful land
and a forgiving Lord." (Surah Saba: 15)

43
Scientists are currently working on chips
that can conduct DNA tests for identifica-
tion. A piece of hair or skin taken from
the crime scene is tested on this little
chip, and the result is matched with data
bank. The process delivers quick and re-
liable results.

In genetics, the Human Genome Project is one of

the most important projects of recent years. The
results of this project, which consist of thousands
of dedicated scientists working on teams from
more than eight countries, will be a breakthrough.
The project's primary goals are to protect against
diseases by making changes to the DNA code, to
predetermine how the body responds to various
medicines, and to take precautions against bodily
weaknesses. This project will make it possible to
determine every human beings' weaknesses. As
all progress comes about through Allah's will, the
resulting knowledge and data will only benefit hu-
manity, for the prevailing Qur'anic values and
morality will make its abuse impossible.
In an environment where people are guided by the Qur'an's values, human life is consid-
ered very precious. For this reason, in a society of believers, people pay the utmost atten-
tion to issues of human health. The latest technology is used in treatments and operations.
All solutions are exhausted and great sacrifices are made to save a person's life.
One of the technological breakthroughs in medicine is picturing the area on which an op-
eration is carried out by sending a powerful source of light into an organism through fiber
optic cables.
 THE GOLDEN AGE

The Arts in the Golden Age

In the Golden Age, the bounty, abundance, wealth, beauty, arts, and
improvements will mark every instant of life. People will always meet
beauty and, like the moral excellence they display, the places in which
they live, as well as their gardens, home decorations, clothes, music,
entertainment, artworks, paintings, and conversations, will become
more beautiful. Consequently, people will experience all of the beau-
ties that Allah mentions in the Qur'an. In one verse, Allah states that
the faithful believers will be given a beautiful life in this world:
What is with you runs out, but what is with Allah goes on forever.
Those who were steadfast will be recompensed according to the
best of what they did. Anyone who acts rightly, male or female,
being a believer, We will give them a good life and recompense
them according to the best of what they did. (Surat al-Nahl: 96-97)
The Qur'an calls attention to the fact that the environment of those
who abide by Allah's commands will be transformed into a kind of
"Abode of Peace." Allah also gives the good news that He will reward
people for their fine morality, and give a better life in this world and
an infinite life in the Hereafter.
Allah calls to the Abode of Peace and guides whom He wills to a
straight path. Those who do good will have the best and more!
Neither dust nor debasement will darken their faces. They are the
Companions of Paradise, remaining in it timelessly, forever. (Surah
Yunus: 25-26)

The Arts in an Environment Permeated by Qur'anic Morality

We can imagine the daily life, arts, economy, and social life that
will exist in the Golden Age, for the Qur'an prescribes an understand-
ing that comprises every instant of life. This understanding is based
on doing good works that will find favor in Allah's sight, and adopt-
ing the best, most accurate, and rational conduct. This Qur'anic un-
derstanding and the wisdom it offers will cause a heretofore

46
 HARUN YAHYA

unprecedented and superior understanding of arts to flourish.

In our day, the majority of people involved in different branches of
the arts consider art as a materialistic profession that will earn them
fame and a high standard of living. Most of the time, they make art not
for art's sake but for money. Their sense of art is driven by a concern for
profit or fame rather than following their own inspiration. For this rea-
son, they undertake no serious effort and feel no need to expand their
horizons to produce novel works of art, for they only desire immediate
material returns. However, the telling attribute of an artist is his or her
ability to think freely and deeply, and thereby produce unique works.
Meanwhile, even if an artist is committed to produce quality
works and succeeds in doing so, those responsible for the business
part of this undertaking fail to support his or her endeavor, for such
works may not be profitable in the prevailing market conditions. In
our day, instead of appreciating a work's artistry, meaning, aesthetics,
and quality, many art galleries present productions that lack taste,
artistry, quality, and meaning.
The Golden Age will eliminate such views, for material concerns
that corrupt artistic values will disappear when everyone receives
their share from the prevailing abundance and welfare. This free state
of mind will allow artists to devote all their attention to displaying
their talents in a peaceful atmosphere. People will realize that art is a
divine beauty, and finally will give all types of art their due attention.
Inspired by the beauties that they see in Allah's creation, artists will
produce remarkable works. The Qur'an's values and the wealth of
senses that these values bring will generate in people the will to pro-
duce ingenious works.
Another reason for this flourishing of the arts will be the abandon-
ment of any tendency to portray hideousness, which is a popular ten-
dency today. The penetration of nihilist and pessimistic beliefs into
society, along with the prevalence of materialist philosophy, accounts
for this tendency. Hideousness is valued, and productions introduced
under the guise of art cause people to drift toward pessimism, tension,
and depression. The themes of such art is often death, pain, hate, loneli-
ness, purposelessness, and meaninglessness. This situation is a natural

47
 THE GOLDEN AGE

consequence of the chaos and destruction inflicted by unbelief on the

human soul. In the End Times, all of these psychological disorders will
disappear, and humanity will experience the joy, happiness, and secu-
rity brought about by the Qur'an's values. This will, in turn, transform
the arts into an endeavor that depict beauty rather than hideousness.

Being Inspired by the Surrounding Beauties

Recognizing the subtleties, taking pleasure in them, and present-
ing them to others in a form that causes delight underlies the essence
of the arts. These features owe their existence to the Qur'an's values.
In the Qur'an, Allah commands people to examine every thing, pon-
der over it, and see the divine purposes behind all events. One of the
verses by which Allah summons people to ponder is as follows:
Have they not looked at the sky above them: how We structured it
and made it beautiful and how there are no fissures in it? And the
land: how We stretched it out and cast firmly embedded mountains
onto it and caused luxuriant plants of every kind to grow in it, an in-
struction and a reminder for every devotee turning to Allah. And
We sent down blessed water from the sky and made gardens grow
by it and grain for harvesting and soaring date-palms with layered
spathes. (Surah Qaf: 6-10)
Everything stated in this verse is encountered frequently by people
in their daily lives. However, only the believers who strive to see the
divine purposes in these things can see the beauty in them. A straw-
berry's color, a rose's odor, a banana's flawless packaging, the heavens
adorned with stars—all of these mean a lot to the faithful. Art is one
way to express these beauties and then interpret and incorporate
them effectively into our daily lives. Various branches of art, such as
painting, music, or decoration, convey the joy inspired by such beau-
ties to the human soul.
In the Golden Age, every living thing and each incident will stir
great joy in people's hearts and, accordingly, manifest itself in art-
works, city planning, construction, landscaping, and so on. Artists
who see the world through the outlook endowed by the Qur'an's

48
 HARUN YAHYA

teachings will amaze the world with their masterpieces. Their innov-
ative works will be unique and invigorate people's lives.

The Example of Prophet Sulayman (as)

The Qur'an provides a detailed account about aesthetics. Prophet
Sulayman (as), who had a superior understanding of art, is a good ex-
ample of the Muslims' aesthetic understanding. From the Qur'anic ac-
counts, we understand that art, aesthetics, and beauty pervaded
Prophet Sulayman (as)'s palace. Its floor, which was the first thing to
catch people's attention, gave the impression of water, for it was made
of glass. The sight of such a transparent floor appeals to the human
soul and gives relief. It is also exciting, since it is unique. Indeed, the
impact of the palace's splendor on the Queen of Saba is related in the
Qur'an as follows:
But what she worshipped besides Allah impeded her. She was from
an unbelieving people. She was told: "Enter the courtyard." But
when she saw it, she supposed it to be a pool and bared her legs. He
said: "It is a courtyard paved with glass." She said: "My Lord, I have
wronged myself, but I have submitted with Sulayman to the Lord of
all the worlds." (Surat an-Naml: 43-44)
The Qur'an provides further details about Prophet Sulayman (as)'s
life. One verse calls our attention to why he enjoyed wealth, power,
and magnificence, which are blessings from Allah:
And he said: "Truly do I love the love of good, with a view to the
glory of my Lord." (Surah Sad: 32)
Another verse informs us that he made his people produce various
works of art:
They made for him anything that he wished: high arches and stat-
ues, huge dishes like cisterns, great built-in cooking vats. "Work,
family of Dawud, in thankfulness!" But very few of My servants are
thankful. (Surah Saba: 13)
These works of art convey his elegant understanding of art. Today,
only one wall of this temple known as Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem
remains, but as the Qur'an and historical documents and accounts re-

49
 THE GOLDEN AGE

veal, it was once a magnificent palace. In the Qur'an, Allah commands

Muslims to take lessons from the Prophets' lives and moral excel-
lence. In this sense, what the Qur'an tells us about Prophet Sulayman
(as) is very precious, for it exemplifies the kind of innovations
Muslims can make in art and aesthetics, and how they can embellish
Earth with superb works of art. In the Golden Age, there will be peo-
ple who adhere to the Qur'an and, in compliance with Allah's com-
mands, take lessons from its accounts of the Prophets' lives. In this
sense also, the Golden Age will have parallels with Prophet
Sulayman's (as) period.

Advances in the Arts

The Qur'an gives a detailed account of such a society's life. Those
who comply with the Qur'an's commands can readily recognize the
right and beautiful and eliminate what is undesirable, since they are
guided by their conscience and reason. Consequently, those who have
based their morality on the Qur'an's teachings will render invaluable
services in the arts, music, theatre, and literature.
As the above examples suggest, Allah provides all believers with
the understanding of aesthetics, art, and beauty, both in Paradise and
in daily life. In the Qur'anic sense, art cannot be confined to music, lit-
erature, and painting, for art fills every field of life with its own vigor.
Believers display their understanding of the arts in a number of ways;
speaking beautifully, being witty and humorous, being able to use the
tone of voice in a fine manner, having a taste for clothes, home decora-
tion, landscaping, cooking tasteful dishes that also look pleasing to the
eye, preparing aesthetic tables, showing affection and love, sincerely
expressing the affection felt for children, for instance, or likewise, dis-
playing respect and love to an elderly person or hosting visitors.
The Golden Age will be a period when people will strive to engage
in art and present beauty to other people with their works of art,
looks, conversations, and conduct.

Advances in Cinema, Theater and Music

People need to broaden their horizons in order to understand the

50
 HARUN YAHYA

Golden Age's superior and unique arts. Most contemporary works of

art either lack creative power or are imitations, for most people make
no effort to think and produce new ideas. Meanwhile, any novelty is
imitated and thus quickly loses its originality.
Monotony also manifests itself in music-making. For instance, a
song's performance is limited to certain instruments, while a musical
work may have many variations. Being resistant to true innovation,
narrow-mindedness and competition underlie this lack of ingenuity.
People tend to imitate popular works, since they prefer fame and mate-
rial gain over aesthetic values. For this reason, despite belonging to dif-
ferent genres, the identical rhythms, melodies, and lyrics are repeated.
This is also why innovative theater plays are not produced. For cen-
turies, the same plays are repeated with minor alterations. The charac-
ters' conversations, answers and behaviors become so similar that a
regular theater-goer almost knows them by heart. The actors' actions,
voices of tone, style, and way of addressing are far from natural.
However, in the Golden Age, everyone will learn how to take plea-
sure from the surrounding beauties and will strive for perfection. Its
welfare will enable artists to produce amazing works of art. In music
and other branches of art, various and unique works will be pro-
duced. Perfectly original video clips and forms of entertainment will
make every instant of life more enjoyable and vivid.
Some contemporary artists produce fine works of art. But due to
the reasons mentioned above, they are few in number and thus their
works are accessible to only a mere handful of people. In the Golden
Age, however, these works will be available to the public.
These are only a few of the Golden Age's unique advances. In an
environment where people comply strictly with the Qur'an's com-
mands, the believers' lives will become perfect. In the following verse,
Allah informs us that the only reason why people remain deprived of
blessings is unbelief:
Were it not that mankind might all become one community, We
would have given those who reject the All-Merciful silver roofs to
their houses, silver stairways to ascend, silver doors to their houses,
silver couches on which to recline, and gold ornaments. (Surat az-
Zukhruf: 33-35)

51
Each sample of Allah's unique creation is an
inspiration for all branches of art. The beauty
of a grape, the matchless color and harmony
of a butterfly's wings, the elegance of a
swan, the beauty of color and texture of a
flower, or the perfect harmony of a zebra's
skin or leopard's fur are only a few of
these. Art is one of the ways to express,
interpret, and incorporate these beau-
ties into our daily lives. Various
branches of art, such as painting,
music, or decoration, convey the joy
that these beauties inspire in the
human soul.
 They will enter Gardens of Eden, where they will be adorned with
gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will be of silk.
(Surah Fatir: 33)
 She was told: "Enter the courtyard."
But when she saw it, she supposed it
to be a pool and bared her legs. He
said: "It is a courtyard paved with
glass." She said: "My Lord, I have
wronged myself, but I have submit-
ted with Sulayman to the Lord
of all the worlds."
(Surat an-Naml: 44)

Illustrations of Prophet Sulayman's (as)

magnificent palace.
 THE GOLDEN AGE

The Golden Age's Paradise-like Environment

In the Qur'an, Allah informs us that the believers' real abode is
Paradise. Consequently, the aesthetic understanding of a person who
lives by the Qur'an's morality is also shaped according to Paradise's
standards. As their real home is Paradise, the way for the believers to
beautify this world is to turn it into a place that reminds them of
Paradise.
The believers' longing for Paradise urges them to transform their
surroundings into Paradise-like places. Paradise, no doubt, abounds
with works of art beyond our imagination. It is a place of images and
beauties of such perfection that they are unlikely to be attained in this
world. Still, the Qur'an's outlook urges us to use all of Earth's avail-
able resources to turn our planet into an image of Paradise.
First of all, the believers manifest the Qur'anic understanding of
cleanliness in their immediate surroundings. In the Golden Age, all
places (e.g., highways, places of worship, recreational places, work-
places, and houses) will be very clean. In one verse, Allah commands
them to "purify your clothes. Shun all filth." (Surat al-Muddathtir: 4-
5) In compliance with this verse, their clothes will be perfectly clean
and the necessary cleansers will be available to everyone so that
cleaning one's clothes will become an easy task.
Keeping the environment clean also will be a very important issue.
Environmental and air pollution will no longer be a threat to city
dwellers. Public places will provide all forms of comfort to people.
For example, both hot and cold water will be available in places of
worship and everyone will have easy access to public transportation.
People will no longer have unpleasant experiences in crowded, airless
public places, for innovative systems and technology will make such
places only a distant memory.
People will have vivid social lives. Recreational places will be de-
signed to provide comfort and will be very clean. Places where young
people gather will be free of harmful foods and drinks, and human
health will be the primary concern.
People will be encouraged to love animals, there will be parks in
which people can see all sorts of animals. Furthermore, such wild an-

56
 HARUN YAHYA

imals as cheetahs, lions, and leopards will be domesticated.

Dangerous animals, such as scorpions or snakes, will no longer pose a
threat to humanity, for their poisons will be eliminated through bio-
logical methods. In one of his sayings, our Prophet (saas) called atten-
tion to this favorable environment:
A person will let his sheep and animals out to pasture. They will go
and, being in the midst of crops, will not bite a single ear of corn.
Snakes and scorpions will harm no one, and wild animals will be
on the doorway, causing no harm.15
People will long for Paradise and hope for Allah's good pleasure,
which will enable them to enter Paradise. Consequently, they will do
their best to produce works of art similar to those in Paradise or to im-
itate the beauty and aesthetics of Paradise. Allah depicts Paradise's
environment as follows:
And [He] will reward them for their steadfastness with a garden [in
Paradise] and with silk. Reclining in it on couches, they will experi-
ence there neither burning sun nor bitter cold. Its shading branches
will droop down over them, its ripe fruit hanging ready to be picked.
Vessels of silver and goblets of pure crystal will be passed round
among them, crystalline silver—they have measured them very ex-
actly. They will be given there a cup to drink mixed with the warmth
of ginger. In it there is a flowing spring called Salsabil. Ageless youths
will circulate among them, serving them. Seeing them, you would
think them scattered pearls. And when you look, it is there that you
will see a Bliss and a Realm Magnificent. (Surat al-Insan: 12-20)
Allah will present countless blessings and beauties to the believers
in Paradise. In return for their moral excellence and efforts to spread
the Qur'an's morality, they will be rewarded with a blissful and glori-
ous life. With the verse, "And when you look, it is that there you will
see a Bliss and a Realm Magnificent" (Surat al-Insan: 20), Allah in-
forms Muslims about the magnificence of Paradise.
Allah provides a detailed account of Paradise's blessings, such as
mansions built in gardens, food, shade, clothes of striking colors, jew-
els, and thousands of other things of which the believers are unaware.
This world's blessings are only imitations of those in Paradise.

57
In the Golden Age, a superior
elegance and subtlety will
dominate home decoration as
in all domains of art. High
columns and arches, couches,
and the use of marble are only
a few of these refinements.
Allah has promised male
and female believers gar-
dens with rivers flowing
under them, remaining in
them timelessly, forever,
and fine dwellings in the
Gardens of Eden. And
Allah's good pleasure is
even greater. That is the
great victory.
(Surat at-Tawba: 72)
 And gold ornaments. All
that is merely the trappings of
the life of the world. But the
Hereafter with your Lord is
for those who are righteous.
(Surat az-Zukhruf: 35)
Using adorned
and carved
columns reflects
a superior taste
of decoration.
The believers' longing
for Paradise urges them
to transform their sur-
roundings into Paradise-
like places. Paradise, no
doubt, abounds with
works of art that are be-
yond our imagination. It
is a place of images and
beauties that are so per-
fect that they are unlikely
to be attained in this
world. Still, the Qur'anic
outlook calls for using
Earth's available re-
sources to turn this
world into an image of
Paradise.
 We place in it gardens of
dates and grapes, and
cause springs to gush
out in it, so they may eat
its fruits—they did not
do it themselves. So will
they not be thankful?
(Surah Ya Sin: 34-35)

In the Golden Age, decora-

tions will convey a superior
understanding of aesthetics.
Be it a mansion, a garden, or
a city, any place will carry
the features of Paradise.
 THE GOLDEN AGE

However, in this world Allah may well present blessings beyond

one's imagination. Indeed, Allah informs us that Paradise's blessings
are similar to those in this world:
Give the good news to those who believe and do right actions that
they will have gardens [in Paradise] with rivers flowing under
them. When they are given fruit there as provision, they will say:
"This is what we were given before." But they were only given a
simulation of it. They will have there spouses of perfect purity and
will remain there timelessly, forever. (Surat al-Baqara: 25)
The Golden Age will be the time when Allah will grant the most
glorious beauties and blessings to people. To form an accurate image
of this period, look at the verses that depict Paradise.

Artistry in Paradise
Rivers and Springs
What is the example [i.e. description] of Paradise promised to the
righteous like? It has rivers flowing under it, and its foodstuffs and
cool shade never fail. That is the final fate of those who have done
their duty. But the final fate of the unbelievers is the Fire. (Surat ar-
Ra'd: 35)
The heedful will be amid gardens and springs: "Enter them in
peace, in complete security!" We will strip away any rancor in their
hearts—brothers [and sisters], resting on couches face-to-face.
(Surat al-Hijr: 45-47)
An image of Paradise that is promised to the righteous: In it there
are rivers of water that will never spoil, rivers of milk whose taste
will never change, and rivers of wine that are delightful to all who
drink it, and rivers of honey of undiluted purity. In it they will have
fruit of every kind and forgiveness from their Lord. Is that like
those who will be in the Fire timelessly, forever, with boiling water

66
 HARUN YAHYA

to drink, which lacerates their bowels? (Surah Muhammad: 15)

Gushing Springs
In it is a gushing spring. (Surat al-Ghashiyya: 12)
In them [two other gardens] are two gushing springs. (Surat ar-
Rahman: 66)

High-Ceilinged Halls and Lofty Chambers

She was told: "Enter the courtyard." But when she saw it, she sup-
posed it to be a pool and bared her legs. He said: "It is a courtyard
paved with glass." She said: "My Lord, I have wronged myself, but I
have submitted with Sulayman to the Lord of all the worlds." (Surat
an-Naml: 44)
But those who heed their Lord will have high-ceilinged halls, and
more such halls built one above the other, and rivers flowing under
them. That is Allah's promise. Allah does not break His promise.
(Surat az-Zumar: 20)
As for those who believe and do right actions, We will lodge them
lofty chambers in Paradise, with rivers flowing under them, re-
maining in them timelessly, for ever. How excellent is the reward of
those who do (good)! (Surat al-`Ankabut: 58)

Fine Dwellings
Allah has promised male and female believers gardens with rivers
flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, forever, and fine
dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. And Allah's good pleasure is
even greater. That is the great victory. (Surat at-Tawba: 72)

The Highest Paradise

Such people will be repaid for their steadfastness with the Highest
Paradise, where they will meet with welcome and "Peace." (Surat al-
Furqan: 75)

67
 THE GOLDEN AGE

Gardens
And We gave Sulayman power over the wind—a month's journey in
the morning and a month in the afternoon. And We made a fount of
molten brass flow out for him. And some of the jinn worked in
front of him by his Lord's permission. And if a single one of them
deviates at all from Our command, We let him taste the punishment
of the Searing Blaze. They made for him anything he wished: high
arches and statues, huge dishes like cisterns, great built-in cooking
vats. "Work, family of Dawud, in thankfulness!" But very few of My
servants are thankful. Then when We decreed that he should die,
nothing divulged his death to them except the worm that ate his
staff; so that when he fell down, it was made clear to the jinn that if
they had truly had knowledge of the Unseen, they need not have
stayed there suffering humiliating punishment. There was also a
sign for Saba in their dwelling place: two gardens—one to the right
and one to the left. "Eat of your Lord's provision and give thanks to
Him: a bountiful land and a forgiving Lord." (Surah Saba: 12-15)
We place in it gardens of dates and grapes, and cause springs to
gush out in it, so they may eat its fruits—they did not do it them-
selves. So will they not be thankful? (Surah Ya Sin: 34-35)
How many gardens and fountains they left behind, and ripe crops
and noble residences. (Surat ad-Dukhan: 24-25)

Cool Pavilions
Dark-eyed (women), secluded in cool pavilions. (Surat ar-Rahman: 72)

Couches
Reclining in it on couches, they will experience there neither burn-
ing sun nor bitter cold. (Surat al-Insan: 13)
The Companions of Paradise are busy enjoying themselves today,
they and their wives reclining on couches in the shade. They will
have fruits there and whatever they request. (Surah Ya Sin: 55-57)
They will recline on couches ranged in rows, and We will marry

68
 HARUN YAHYA

them to dark-eyed maidens. (Surat at-Tur: 20)

The truly good will be in perfect Bliss on couches, gazing in won-
der. (Surat al-Mutaffifin: 22-23)
We will strip away any rancor in their hearts—brothers [and sisters],
resting on couches face-to-face. (Surat al-Hijr: 47)
They will have Gardens of Eden with rivers flowing under them.
They will be adorned in them with bracelets made of gold and wear
green garments made of the finest silk and rich brocade, reclining
there on couches under canopies. What an excellent reward! What a
wonderful repose! (Surat al-Kahf: 31)
They and their wives reclining on couches in the shade. (Surah Ya
Sin: 56)
[In it are] raised-up couches. (Surat al-Ghashiyya: 13)
Those are the Ones Brought Near in Gardens of Delight. A large
group of the earlier people but few of the later ones. On sumptuous
woven couches, reclining on them face to face. (Surat al-Waqi'a: 11-16)
They will be reclining on couches lined with rich brocade, the fruits
of the gardens hanging close to hand. (Surat ar-Rahman: 54)

Cups
Sweet fruits and high honor in Gardens of Delight on couches face-to-
face; a cup from a flowing spring passing round among them, as white
as driven snow, delicious to those who drink, which has no headache
in it and does not leave them stupefied. (Surat as-Saffat: 42-47)
Carrying goblets and decanters and a cup from a flowing spring.
(Surat al-Waqi'a: 18-19)
The truly good will drink from a cup mixed with the coolness of
camphor. (Surat al-Insan: 5)
They will be given there a cup to drink mixed with the warmth of
ginger. (Surat al-Insan: 17)

Platters, Goblets, and Decanters

Platters and cups of gold will be passed around among them, and

69
 THE GOLDEN AGE

they will have there all that their hearts desire and all in which their
eyes find delight. You will remain in it timelessly, forever. (Surat az-
Zukhruf: 71)
Carrying goblets and decanters and a cup from a flowing spring.
(Surat al-Waqi'a: 18-19)

Silver Roofs and Doors

Were it not that mankind might all become one community, We
would have given those who reject the All-Merciful silver roofs to
their houses, silver stairways and silver doors to their houses, silver
couches on which to recline, and gold ornaments. All that is merely
the trappings of the life of the world. But the Hereafter, with your
Lord, is for those who do their duty. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 33-35)

Exquisite Cushions, Quilts, and Rugs

[In them are sweet, lovely maidens] reclining on green quilts and
exquisite rugs. (Surat ar-Rahman: 76)
[It it are] lined-up cushions, and spread-out rugs. (Surat al-
Ghashiyya: 15-16)

The Most Beautiful Garments

[In them they will] wear green garments made of the finest silk and
rich brocade, reclining there on couches under canopies. What an
excellent reward! What a wonderful repose! (Surat al-Kahf: 31)
[Allah will admit those who believe and do right actions into gar-
dens] where their clothing will be of silk. (Surat al-Hajj: 23)

Gold, Silk, Pearls, and All Sorts of Jewels

They will have Gardens of Eden with rivers flowing under them.
They will be adorned in them with bracelets made of gold... (Surat
al-Kahf: 31)
But Allah will admit those who believe and do right actions into

70
 HARUN YAHYA

gardens with rivers flowing under them, where they will be

adorned with gold bracelets and pearls... (Surat al-Hajj: 23)
A large group of the earlier people, but few of the later ones. On
sumptuous woven couches, reclining on them face-to-face. There will
circulate among them ageless youths carrying goblets and decanters
and a cup from a flowing spring—it does not give them any headache
nor does it leave them stupefied. And any fruit they specify and any
bird-meat they desire. And dark-eyed maidens like hidden pearls. As
recompense for what they did. They will hear no prattling in it nor
any word of wrong. All that is said is: "Peace. Peace." And the
Companions of the Right: what of the Companions of the Right?
Amid thornless lote-trees, fruit-laden acacias, wide-spreading shade,
outpouring water, and fruits in abundance never failing, unrestricted.
And on elevated couches. (Surat al-Waqi'a: 13-34)
Wearing fine silk and rich brocade, face-to-face with one another.
(Surat ad-Dukhan: 53)

Gold and Silver Bracelets

But Allah will admit those who believe and do right actions into
gardens with rivers flowing under them, where they will be
adorned with gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing
will be of silk. (Surat al-Hajj: 23)
They will enter Gardens of Eden, where they will be adorned with
gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will be of silk.
(Surah Fatir: 33)
They will have Gardens of Eden with rivers flowing under them.
They will be adorned in them with bracelets made of gold and wear
green garments made of the finest silk and rich brocade, reclining
there on couches under canopies. What an excellent reward! What a
wonderful repose! (Surat al-Kahf: 31)
They will wear green garments of fine silk and rich brocade. They
will be adorned with silver bracelets. And their Lord will give them
a pure draught to drink. (Surat al-Insan: 21)

71
 THE GOLDEN AGE

All Sorts of Desirable Fruits

And any fruit that they specify. (Surat al-Waqi'a: 21)
They will call there for fruit of every kind, in complete security.
(Surat ad-Dukhan: 55)
… fruits in abundance. (Surat al-Waqi`a: 32)
Those who do their duty will have a good Homecoming: Gardens of
Eden, whose gates will be open to them, where they will recline,
calling for plentiful fruit and drink. (Surah Sad: 49-51)
We will supply them with any kind of fruit and meat that they de-
sire. (Surat at-Tur: 22)
… sweet fruits and high honor. (Surat as-Saffat: 42)
In them are fruits and date-palms and pomegranates. (Surat ar-
Rahman: 68)
Amid thornless lote-trees and fruit-laden acacias. (Surat al-Waqi`a:
28-29)
They will have fruits there and whatever they request. (Surah Ya-
Sin: 57)

The Fruits of the Gardens Hanging Close to Hand

Its shading branches will droop down over them, its ripe fruit hang-
ing ready to be picked. (Surat al-Insan: 14)
They will be reclining on couches lined with rich brocade, the fruits
of the gardens hanging close to hand. (Surat ar-Rahman: 54)
Its ripe fruit hanging close to hand. (Surat al-Haqqa: 23)

Non-failing Foodstuff
What is the example [i.e. description] of Paradise promised to the
righteous like? It has rivers flowing under it, and its foodstuffs and
cool shade never fail. That is the final fate of those who have done
their duty. But the final fate of the unbelievers is the Fire. (Surat ar-
Ra'd: 35)

72
 HARUN YAHYA

Delicious Drinks
... A cup from a flowing spring passing round among them, as white
as driven snow, delicious to those who drink, which has no
headache in it and does not leave them stupefied. (Surat as-Saffat:
45-47)
They will pass round there a drinking cup to one another with no
foolish talk and no wrong action in it. (Surat at-Tur: 23)
The truly good will drink from a cup mixed with the coolness of
camphor, a spring from which Allah's servants will drink, making it
gush forth at will abundantly. (Surat al-Insan: 5-6)
And a cup from a flowing spring—it does not give them any
headache nor does it leave them stupefied. (Surat al-Waqi'a: 19-20)

Non-Spoiling Blessings
An image of Paradise that is promised to the heedful. In it there are
rivers of water that will never spoil, rivers of milk whose taste will
never change, rivers of wine that are delightful to all who drink it,
and rivers of honey of undiluted purity. In it they will have fruit of
every kind and forgiveness from their Lord. Is that like those who
will be in the Fire timelessly, forever, with boiling water to drink,
which lacerates their bowels? (Surah Muhammad: 15)

73
And the Companions
of the Right: what of
the Companions of
the Right? Amid
thornless lote-trees,
fruit-laden acacias,
wide-spreading
shade, outpouring
water, and fruits in
abundance never
failing, unrestricted.
And on elevated
couches. (Surah Al-
Waqi'a: 27-34)
Seeing them, you see delight and a great
kingdom. They will wear green garments
of fine silk and rich brocade. They will
be adorned with silver bracelets.
(Surat al-Insan: 20-21)
But Allah will admit those who believe and do right actions into gar-
dens with rivers flowing under them, where they will be adorned with
gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will be of silk.
(Surat al-Hajj: 23)
 THE GOLDEN AGE

The Beauties Resulting from Living

by the Qu'ran's Morality
In order to understand the beauties that people will enjoy in a society
ruled by Qur'an's values, one needs to analyze the corruption found in
societies that follow other values. In such societies, people are vulnerable
to all forms of immorality. Devout believers avoid immorality because
they heed and are conscious of Allah, acknowledge that He knows what-
ever they try to conceal, and are aware that they will have to account for
their deeds on the Day of Judgment. Thus, they do not engage in any im-
moral behavior, commit fraud or murder, take bribes, and so on.
But the unbelievers can indulge in such vices with ease. Since they
have no fear or awareness of Allah, they have no motive to acquire a good
attitude and thoughts or to urge themselves to follow their conscience. In
an unbelieving society, all forms of immorality can be considered legiti-
mate depending on the conditions because its people have arrogated to
themselves the power to decide what is right and what is wrong.
However, the believers never swerve from justice, tolerance, patience,
honesty, and moral excellence. Allah describes such people as follows:
Those who fulfill Allah's contract and do not break their agreement;
those who join what Allah has commanded to be joined, stand in awe of
their Lord, and fear an evil Reckoning; those who are steadfast in seek-
ing the face of their Lord, establish prayer, give from the provision We
have given them, both secretly and openly, and stave off evil with
good—they will have the Ultimate Abode. (Surat ar-Ra'd: 20-22)
The pervasive spread of immorality and degradation is the most
telling attribute in societies that are far from the Qur'an's morality. In
such societies, family and business life, politics, and human relations
undergo rapid degeneration, for a life devoid of fear and consciousness
of Allah sees no rules or limits. In this kind of life, the self's pleasures
and ambitions see no limits.
A natural consequence of degeneration, namely, the degeneration of
the family structure, which is the basic unit of all societies, is the destruc-
tion of society as a whole. Feelings of respect, love, and compassion are re-
placed by selfish desires; people start to pursue nothing but their own

78
 HARUN YAHYA

interests and violate others' rights. Nobody helps the needy, and the well-
off seek only to hoard all they can, and harbor no humane values.
In a society made up of believers, however, helping people or mak-
ing sacrifices display a believer's morality, which is praised by and rec-
ommended in the Qur'an. Muslims give to the needy and, in return,
expect only Allah's reward:
Those who recite the Book of Allah, establish prayer, and give of
what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a
transaction that will not prove profitless. (Surah Fatir: 29)
In societies that are far removed from the Qur'an's morality, nobody
thinks about the good, comfort, security, and health of anybody else.
Selfish desires guide people's decisions, for the goal is always to earn
and possess more. Such people feign ignorance about what is going
around them, and it never occurs to them that they should try not to be
so wasteful or to help those who are starving or facing other difficulties.
When they make unjust gains or attempt to achieve wealth through
plunder, they see the plight of those who suffer from the consequences
of this process, and yet are not moved by such people's misery. People
treat one another well only if they can perceive that it is somehow in
their interest to do so.
Failure to embrace the Qur'an's values accounts for theft, bribery,
suicide, abuse, and social injustice, for only people endowed with such
values behave justly under all circumstances, constantly do good
deeds, and seek Allah's good pleasure and the eternal life of the
Hereafter. Furthermore, in a society made up of such morally excellent
people, justice penetrates every sphere of life.
In this blessed period that is coming closer, there will be morally ex-
cellent people who will exercise justice, live by the letter and the spirit
of the Qur'an's values, and communicate them to people. One factor
that will secure the prevailing peace, security, and comfort of the
Golden Age is the moral excellence displayed by Muslims. Abundance,
blessings, and wealth will reach their peak level. With a subtle under-
standing of justice, everyone will be treated equally, and no one's wants
and needs will be neglected.

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THE GOLDEN AGE

80
 THE GOLDEN AGE

Justice in the Golden Age

According to our Prophet (saas), before the Golden Age a great de-
generation and injustice will prevail in society. Theft and fraud will
grow, people will not seek to meet the needs of the needy, and only a
small group of people will enjoy the benefits of affluence. But during
the Golden Age, when the Qur’an’s morality will prevail, every strata
will benefit equally from justice, security, and peace. In such a secure
environment, people will not commit any form of fraud, wickedness,
and unlawful acts. The following sayings are only a few that describe
the justice unique to the End Times:
Earth will be filled with equity and justice, just as it was previously filled
with oppression and tyranny.16
... There will be no injustice or oppression under his [the Mahdi's] rule.17
The earth fills with justice.18
He [the Mahdi] will distribute wealth evenly among people. His justice will
permeate everywhere. Earth, replete with violence and wickedness, will over-
flow with justice upon his arrival.19
During the time of Mahdi, justice will prevail to such an extent that every
possession taken by force will be returned to his owner; furthermore, some
other person’s thing, even if it rests within one’s teeth, will be given back to
its owner… Security will permeate all over Earth and even a few ladies will
be able to fulfil their hajj without the company of men.20

Allah Commands Justice

O you who believe, be upholders of justice, bearing witness for Allah
alone, even against yourselves or your parents and relatives. Whether
they are rich or poor, Allah is well able to look after them. Do not fol-
low your own desires and deviate from the truth. If you twist or turn
away, Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat an-Nisa’: 135)
As this verse maintains, Allah commands the believers to be just
under all circumstances. For this reason, when the Qur’an’s morality

80
 HARUN YAHYA

prevails, they will exercise justice in its true sense. Their system will
ensure that all people take advantage of all benefits and will receive
what they request, and that everyone will be protected and guarded.
For this reason, people will no longer have an attitude that does not
comply with the Qur’an’s morality, and injustice and violence will
disappear completely.
In the Golden Age, people will comply scrupulously with each
Qur’anic verse and thereby bring about a Paradise-like environment
of peace and security. One of the most telling attributes of a Muslim
living in such an environment is his or her commitment to uphold
justice under all circumstances, provide justice to others, and never to
swerve from it. In such a society, the believers will maintain justice at
every instant of life. No one will be allowed to live in misery or be
subjected to injustice, for all people will receive a just recompense for
their work, and no one will need to suffer to make ends meet.
Everyone will be asked to accomplish things in line with his or her
own ability and will be provided with all kinds of opportunities.
Allah commands His believing servants to rule with justice. Some of
the related verses are as follows:
Allah commands justice, doing good, and giving to relatives. And
He forbids indecency, doing wrong, and tyranny. He warns you so
that hopefully you will pay heed. (Surat an-Nahl: 90)
Allah commands you to return to their owners the things that you
hold on trust and, when you judge between people, to judge with
justice. How excellent is what Allah exhorts you to do! Allah is All-
Hearing, All-Seeing. (Surat an-Nisa’: 58)
Among those We have created there is a community who guide by
the Truth and act justly according to it. (Surat al-A`raf: 181)
O you who believe, show integrity for the sake of Allah, bearing wit-
ness with justice. Do not let hatred for a people incite you into not
being just. Be just. That is closer to heedfulness… (Surat al-Ma’ida: 8)
At present, we can see clearly the existence of great injustice and
an unequal allocation of resources. Images of children starving to
death or of people murdering one another for a loaf of bread bring to

81
 THE GOLDEN AGE

mind social justice. That the wealth of the 200 richest people amounts
to the wealth of 2.5 billion fellow human beings is the most explicit
indication of the prevailing unjust system. When there are so many
people in need, many affluent people still strive to hoard even more
goods to add to their fortunes. Money spent only for pleasure and de-
bauchery, or for no purpose at all, may well become the way out for
hundreds of thousands of people dying of hunger. However, some
miserly people still turn their faces away from those who are suffer-
ing. In the Qur’an, Allah describes these people as follows:
No indeed! You do not honor orphans or urge the feeding of the
poor; you devour inheritance with voracious appetites and have an
insatiable love of wealth. (Surat al-Fajr: 17-20)
Such moral corruption is the result of being selfish and losing the
feelings of cooperation and solidarity. In this case, the only solution is
to establish the Qur’an’s morality throughout society, for those peo-
ple who display its morality are just, compassionate, and seek to help
those in need. Only through the existence of such morally excellent
people can this Earth be filled with justice, abundance, and blessings.
Some Qur’anic verses regarding the establishment of social justice
on Earth are as follows:
You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love.
Whatever you give away, Allah knows it. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 92)
As for those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend it in
the Way of Allah, give them the news of a painful punishment.
(Surat at-Tawba: 34)
O you who believe, give away some of the good things you have
earned and some of what the land produces for you. And do not aim
toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you
would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes. Know that
Allah is Rich Beyond Need, Praiseworthy. (Surat al-Baqara: 267)
If you give your alms in public, that is good. But if you conceal it
and give it to the poor, that is better for you, and We will erase some
of your bad actions from you. Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat
al-Baqara: 271)

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 HARUN YAHYA

Those who are steadfast in seeking the face of their Lord, and es-
tablish prayer and give from the provision We have given them, se-
cretly and openly, and stave off evil with good, it is they who will
have the Ultimate Abode. (Surat ar-Ra‘d: 22)
Those who give in times of both ease and hardship, those who con-
trol their rage and pardon other people—Allah loves the good-
doers. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 134)
[Charity is] for the poor who are held back in the Way of Allah, un-
able to travel in the land. The ignorant consider them rich because
of their reticence. You will know them by their mark. They do not
ask from people insistently. Whatever good you give away, Allah
knows it. (Surat al-Baqara: 273)
If someone is in difficult circumstances, there should be a deferral
until things are easier. But making a free gift of it would be better
for you, if you only knew. (Surat al-Baqara: 280)
They give food, despite their love for it, to the poor and orphans
and captives [saying]: “We feed you only out of desire for the Face
of Allah. We do not want any repayment from you or any thanks.”
(Surat al-Insan: 8-9)
Have you seen him who denies the religion? He is the one who
harshly rebuffs the orphan and does not urge the feeding of the
poor. (Surat al-Ma‘un: 1-3)
And how is it with you that you do not give in the Way of Allah,
when the inheritance of the heavens and Earth belongs to Allah?
Those of you who gave and fought before the Victory are not the
same as those who gave and fought afterward. They [the former] are
higher in rank. But to each of them Allah has promised the Best.
Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat al-Hadid: 10)
The Golden Age will be a blessed period during which people will
comply scrupulously with Allah’s commands, and, as a result, justice,
self-sacrifice, and charity will prevail. In this blessed period, the rich
will not hesitate to give to the needy, and everyone will think of the
good and comfort of others. This spirit of sharing will make everyone
enjoy the same level of welfare and will solve many age-old prob-
lems, such as poverty and hunger.

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 THE GOLDEN AGE

Social Life and Respect for the State

In the Golden Age, the arts and technology will flourish and de-
velop to heretofore unimagined extents. In addition, social life will be
markedly peaceful. Allah will present a previously unknown level of
beauty to the life of people of faith who turn to His religion, for, as
stated in the Qur’an, He promises good to His servants who comply
with the Qur’an’s morality:
Allah calls to the Abode of Peace and guides whom He wills to a
straight path. Those who do good will have the best and more!
Neither dust nor debasement will darken their faces. They are the
Companions of Paradise, remaining in it timelessly, forever. (Surah
Yunus: 25-26)
In the Golden Age, “the Abode of Peace” promised to those who “do
good” will be present in its true sense. The most important element that
ensures such a life will be strict adherence to the Qur’an’s morality.
How will this peace and tranquility be secured?
As we know, respect, obedience, and confidence engender social
peace and tranquility. In the Qur’an, obedience is featured and encour-
aged as an ideal moral attribute. In many verses, Allah commands
Muslims to be obedient. Consequently, the social life of a community
that embodies the Qur’an’s morality is simultaneously an environment
in which people show the greatest respect and obedience to the state.
In addition, Allah forbids people from committing corruption.
There are many verses related to this command:
Eat and drink of Allah’s provision, and do not go about the land
corrupting it. (Surat al-Baqara: 60)
Whenever he holds the upperhand, he goes about the land corrupt-
ing it, destroying [people's] crops and animals. Allah does not love
corruption. (Surat al-Baqara: 205)
Do not corrupt the land after it has been put right. Call on Him fear-
fully and eagerly. Allah’s mercy is close to the good-doers. (Surat al-
A‘raf: 56)
Give full measure and full weight. Do not diminish people’s goods.

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 HARUN YAHYA

Do not cause corruption in the land after it has been put right. That
is better for you if you are believers. Do not lie in wait on every
pathway, threatening people, barring those who believe from [en-
tering] the Way of Allah, desiring to make it crooked. Remember
when you were few and He increased your number: see the final
fate of the corrupters! (Surat al-A‘raf: 85-86)
But as for those who break Allah’s contract after it has been agreed,
sever what Allah has commanded to be joined, and cause corrup-
tion in the land, the curse will be upon them. They will have the
Evil Abode. (Surat ar-Ra‘d: 25)
Seek the abode of the Hereafter with what Allah has given you,
without forgetting your portion of the world. And do good, as Allah
has been good to you. And do not seek to cause corruption in the
land. Allah does not love corrupters. (Surat al-Qasas: 77)
In compliance with these verses, sincere Muslims strictly avoid
causing any corruption and instigating chaos and conflict. In a peace-
ful, stable, and tolerant manner, they always seek peaceful solutions
to problems.
Life in the Golden Age also will be characterized by peace. People
will display the trust and respect they feel for the state by obeying its
agencies. People will no longer pose difficulties or fight against police
or other security forces. On the contrary, with their tolerant and kind
attitude, those who live by the Qur’an’s morality will always side
with the security forces and thereby help them to accomplish their
tasks. The presence of such people will eradicate anarchy, terror,
chaos, enmity, and violence. As a result, humanity will attain a
Paradise-like environment, the like of which has never been seen be-
fore. Conflict, fighting, and disagreement will be things of the past.
On the streets, people will feel secure and will be able to go any-
where—even at night.
Our Prophet (saas) stressed in his sayings that there will be no
bloodshed in that period and that peace will prevail:
In this time, one is not awoken from sleep and not a drop of blood is shed.21
In this time, neither a man will be awoken from sleep, nor will a person’s nose
bleed.22

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 THE GOLDEN AGE

Moreover, the self-possessed and obedient attitude of these

morally excellent people will make it easy to administer the country.
The absence of such vices as greed for material values and mundane
troubles (e.g., striving to make a living) will put an end to theft and
fraud. Violent outbreaks will not happen, and the pursuit for truth
and research will occupy people’s minds. In the absence of anarchy,
terror, corruption, crime, murder, fraud, and so many other evil
deeds, countries will prosper.
This contemporary, civilized, and rational Islamic model, which
will prevail during the Golden Age, will guide the Islamic world. The
walls of bigotry surrounding Islam for centuries will collapse, and the
original religion will resurface in all of its purity. Societies abiding by
the Qur’an’s morality will solve their internal social problems and be-
come role models for other societies.

Religion Will Be Restored to Its Original State

Another news revealed by the Hadith literature regarding the End
Times is that the original religion will no longer be misunderstood. In
the Golden Age, all heretical misunderstandings that entered Islam
after our Prophet (saas) will be eliminated, and the original religion
will be restored: “Just as in the case of the Prophet, the requirements of the
religion will be fulfilled.”23
After the death of our Prophet (saas) and his Companions, history
records that unrelated heresies and forms of worship were intro-
duced into the original religion, and that countless hadiths and judg-
ments, most of which have survived to our day, were fabricated and
attributed to our Prophet (saas). Despite the best efforts of true
Muslims to eliminate these fabrications, many practices done in the
name of Islam today are not based upon the Qur’an.
As the Qur’an is the only source that can distinguish between the
correct and mistaken practices, only its guidance can expose and re-
move these fabricated heresies. This way, the true religion will resur-
face.
Today, many people embrace the understanding of Islam that they

86
 HARUN YAHYA

inherited from their ances-

tors as the true religion.
Both some pious people
and those who oppose
Islam consider this under-
standing to be the true
Islam. However, in many He has laid down the same
respects this understand- religion for you as He enjoined
on Nuh: that which We have re-
ing of religion contradicts
vealed to you and which We en-
with the Islam described
joined on Ibrahim, Musa and
in the Qur’an. This tradi-
‘Isa: “Establish the religion and
tional understanding is
do not make divisions in it.”
comprised of baseless
What you call the idolater to fol-
myths and countless big-
low is very hard for them. Allah
oted beliefs and rituals.
chooses for Himself anyone He
This religion’s adherents
wills, and guides to Himself
base their knowledge of those who turn to Him.
religion on myths and sto- (Surat ash-Shura: 13)
ries, rather than on the
Qur’an.
The fact that many people considered to be pious by the public are
unaware of the Qur’an’s verses reveals this perversion. Rather than
adopting the Qur’an as their guide, they adhere to the rituals of a par-
ticular tradition. As a result, they are far removed from such concerns
as pondering the verses of the Qur'an and trying to understand their
divine purposes. They drift further from the Qur’an and become suf-
focated in details. However, in an environment where the Qur’an is
disregarded, no one can know and live by Islam in its true sense.
Indeed, as the Qur’an informs us, on the Day of Judgment our
Prophet (saas) will say that his people have treated the Qur’an as a
forsaken thing:
The Messenger says: “My Lord, my people treat this Qur’an as
something to be ignored.” (Surat al-Furqan: 30)
Allah warns those who turn away from the Qur’an as follows:

87
 THE GOLDEN AGE

In this way We give you news of what has gone before, and We have
given you a reminder direct from Us. Those who turn away from it
will bear a heavy burden on the Day of Rising, remaining in it time-
lessly, forever. What an evil load they will bear on the Day of
Rising! (Surah Ta Ha: 99-101)
The main reason why many people remain far from religion is the
presentation of Islam in this perverted form. Most people notice that
this religion, which is based on various traditions, harbors irrational
elements and countless contradictions, and so wait for the facts to
surface. In the End Times, Allah will restore the religion to its original
state and make the Qur’an’s morality prevail. When this times comes,
He will remove all deviations that hinder people from living by His
religion, and will purify Islam from all heresies, false beliefs, and
forms of worship. :
... He [the Mahdi] will practise the religion just as in the time of Our
Prophet. He will eliminate the sects from the face of the earth. No sect
except for the original true religion will remain..24
In our own time, Muslims fail to agree even on some fundamental
issues. Contrary to this situation, Allah commands Muslims not to
disagree about issues concerning their religion:
This faith of yours is a single faith and I am your Lord, so heed Me.
But they disagreed and split up, dividing into sects, each party ex-
ulting in what it had. (Surat al-Mu’minun: 52-53)
Those who divide the Qur’an into little pieces. (Surat al-Hijr: 91)
He has laid down the same religion for you as He enjoined on Nuh:
that which We have revealed to you and which We enjoined on
Ibrahim, Musa, and `Isa: “Establish the religion and do not make
divisions in it.” What you call the idolaters to follow is very hard
for them. Allah chooses for Himself anyone He wills, and guides to
Himself those who turn to Him. (Surat ash-Shura: 13)
That is because Allah has sent down the Book with truth, and those
who differ from the Book are entrenched in hostility. (Surat al-
Baqara: 176)
In the Qur’an, Allah says that Islam is an easy religion to live by

88
 HARUN YAHYA

and that its commands are clear and easy. The Qur’an lays down what
is right and what is wrong, as well as what kind of attitudes and be-
haviors lead one to Paradise or Hell. The fact that the Qur’an contains
the basic knowledge that people may need at any time is stressed in
many verses:
We have not omitted anything from the Book—then they will be
gathered to their Lord. (Surat al-An`am: 38)
We have sent down the Book to you, making all things clear and as
guidance and mercy and good news for the Muslims. (Surat an-
Nahl: 89)
In this way We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an, and have di-
versified therein the warnings so that hopefully they will avoid sin
or it will spur them into remembrance. (Surah Ta Ha: 113)
We have given all kinds of examples to people in this Qur’an, so
that hopefully they will pay heed. (Surat az-Zumar: 27)
Allah warns those who proclaim their own laws on behalf of reli-
gion as follows:
O you who believe, do not make unlawful the good things Allah
has made lawful for you, and do not overstep the limits. Allah does
not love people who overstep the limits. (Surat al-Ma’ida, 87)
Do not say about what your lying tongues describe: “This is lawful
and this is unlawful,” inventing lies against Allah. Those who in-
vent lies against Allah are not successful. (Surat an-Nahl, 116)
Those who make what Allah has provided for them unlawful, in-
venting lies against Allah, such people are lost. They are mis-
guided. They are not guided. (Surat al-An`am: 140)
In another verse, Allah makes it clear that Islam is easy to live by:
He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in reli-
gion. (Surat al-Hajj: 78)
On no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. (Surat
al-Baqara: 286)
Allah desires to make things lighter for you. Man was created weak.
(Surat an-Nisa’: 28)
Allah does not want to make things difficult for you, but He does

89
 THE GOLDEN AGE

want to purify you and to perfect His blessing upon you so that
hopefully you will be thankful. (Surat al-Ma’ida: 6)
The verses below reveal that one of the reasons why Prophet
Muhammad (saas) was sent was to relieve people of their heavy
loads and chains:
Those who follow the Messenger, the Ummi, whom they find writ-
ten down with them in the Torah and the Gospel, commanding
them to do right and forbidding them to do wrong, making good
things lawful for them and bad things unlawful for them, relieving
them of their heavy loads and the chains that were around them.
Those who believe in him, honor him, and help him, and follow the
Light that has been sent down with him, they are the ones who are
successful. (Surat al-A`raf: 157)
Allah showed great kindness to the believers when He sent a
Messenger to them from among themselves to recite His Signs to
them, purify them, and teach them the Book and Wisdom, even
though before that they were clearly misguided. (Surah Al`Imran:
164)
The true religion is truly easy. Our Prophet (saas) also stated many
times that religion must not be presented as difficult:
Make things easy for the people, and do not make it difficult for them. Make
them calm (with glad tidings), and do not repulse (them).25

Allah did not commission me for clerical duties. The more pleasing thing in
the sight of Allah is to choose the easy way of Allah's Oneness.26

Avoid exaggeration while practicing your religion. The ones preceding you
perished for this reason.27
The Golden Age will be a time when people will truly live by
Allah’s religion. Sincere Muslims will restore the religion to its origi-
nal state.

90
 s we have seen throughout this book, Allah de-

A scribes the beauties in Paradise that will be pre-

sented to those Muslims who comply with the
Qur’an’s morality while living in this world. Beautiful mansions with
rivers flowing under them, constantly flowing springs, villas, foods
and drinks, and jewels will be granted to them in return for their
moral excellence. Paradise is the eternal life that Muslims always long
to attain:
“Enter Paradise, you and your wives, delighting in your joy.”
Platters and cups of gold will be passed around among them, and
they will have there all that their hearts desire and in which their
eyes find delight. You will remain in it timelessly, forever. That is
Paradise you will inherit for what you did. There will be many
fruits in it for you to eat. (Surat az-Zukhruf: 70-73)
The Golden Age is such a beautiful life granted to Muslims in this
world. This period is, as our Prophet (saas) said, an image of
Paradise. It is a blessing from Allah. With its abundance, as well as its
peaceful and comfortable environment, it is a period that every ser-
vant of faith who devotes his or her life to Allah would like to attain,
and a great reward.
For all Muslims, it is no doubt a great honor to be given the good
news of this period.

93
 arwinism, in other words the theory of evolution, was

D put forward with the aim of denying the fact of cre-

ation, but is in truth nothing but failed, unscientific
nonsense. This theory, which claims that life emerged by chance from
inanimate matter, was invalidated by the scientific evidence of clear
"design" in the universe and in living things. In this way, science con-
firmed the fact that Allah created the universe and the living things
in it. The propaganda carried out today in order to keep the theory of
evolution alive is based solely on the distortion of the scientific facts,
biased interpretation, and lies and falsehoods disguised as science.
Yet this propaganda cannot conceal the truth. The fact that the the-
ory of evolution is the greatest deception in the history of science has
been expressed more and more in the scientific world over the last 20-
30 years. Research carried out after the 1980s in particular has re-
vealed that the claims of Darwinism are totally unfounded,
something that has been stated by a large number of scientists. In the
United States in particular, many scientists from such different fields
as biology, biochemistry and paleontology recognize the invalidity of
Darwinism and employ the concept of intelligent design to account
for the origin of life. This "intelligent design" is a scientific expression
of the fact that Allah created all living things.
We have examined the collapse of the theory of evolution and the
proofs of creation in great scientific detail in many of
our works, and are still continuing to do so.
Given the enormous importance of this sub-
ject, it will be of great benefit to summarize it
here.

The Scientific Collapse of

Darwinism
Although this doctrine goes back as far
as ancient Greece, the theory of evolution
was advanced extensively in the nine-
teenth century. The most important devel- Charles Darwin

95
 THE GOLDEN AGE

opment that made it the top topic of the world of science was Charles
Darwin's The Origin of Species, published in 1859. In this book, he de-
nied that Allah created different living species on Earth separately, for
he claimed that all living beings had a common ancestor and had di-
versified over time through small changes. Darwin's theory was not
based on any concrete scientific finding; as he also accepted, it was just
an "assumption." Moreover, as Darwin confessed in the long chapter of
his book titled "Difficulties of the Theory," the theory failed in the face
of many critical questions.
Darwin invested all of his hopes in new scientific discoveries,
which he expected to solve these difficulties. However, contrary to his
expectations, scientific findings expanded the dimensions of these
difficulties. The defeat of Darwinism in the face of science can be re-
viewed under three basic topics:
1) The theory cannot explain how life originated on Earth.
2) No scientific finding shows that the "evolutionary mechanisms"
proposed by the theory have any evolutionary power at all.
3) The fossil record proves the exact opposite of what the theory
suggests.
In this section, we will examine these three basic points in general
outlines:

The First Insurmountable Step:

The Origin of Life
The theory of evolution posits that all living species evolved from
a single living cell that emerged on the primitive Earth 3.8 billion
years ago. How a single cell could generate millions of complex liv-
ing species and, if such an evolution really occurred, why traces of it
cannot be observed in the fossil record are some of the questions that
the theory cannot answer. However, first and foremost, we need to
ask: How did this "first cell" originate?
Since the theory of evolution denies creation and any kind of su-
pernatural intervention, it maintains that the "first cell" originated co-
incidentally within the laws of nature, without any design, plan or

96
 HARUN YAHYA

arrangement. According to the theory, inanimate matter must have

produced a living cell as a result of coincidences. Such a claim, how-
ever, is inconsistent with the most unassailable rules of biology.

"Life Comes from Life"

In his book, Darwin never referred to the origin of life. The primi-
tive understanding of science in his time rested on the assumption
that living beings had a very simple structure. Since medieval times,
spontaneous generation, which asserts that non-living materials
came together to form living organisms, had been widely accepted. It
was commonly believed that insects came into being from food left-
overs, and mice from wheat. Interesting experiments were conducted
to prove this theory. Some wheat was placed on a dirty piece of cloth,
and it was believed that mice would originate from it after a while.
Similarly, maggots developing in rotting meat was assumed to be
evidence of spontaneous generation. However, it was later under-
stood that worms did not appear on meat spontaneously, but were
carried there by flies in the form of larvae, invisible to the naked eye.
Even when Darwin wrote The Origin of Species, the belief that bac-
teria could come into existence from non-living matter was widely ac-
cepted in the world of science.
However, five years after the publi-
cation of Darwin's book, Louis
Pasteur announced his results after
long studies and experiments, that
disproved spontaneous generation, a
cornerstone of Darwin's theory. In his
triumphal lecture at the Sorbonne in
1864, Pasteur said: "Never will the
doctrine of spontaneous generation
recover from the mortal blow struck
by this simple experiment."28
For a long time, advocates of the
theory of evolution resisted these Louis Pasteur
findings. However, as the develop-

97
 THE GOLDEN AGE

ment of science unraveled the complex structure of the cell of a living

being, the idea that life could come into being coincidentally faced an
even greater impasse.

Inconclusive Efforts in the Twentieth Century

The first evolutionist who took up the subject of the origin of life
in the twentieth century was the renowned Russian biologist
Alexander Oparin. With various theses he advanced in the 1930s, he
tried to prove that a living cell could originate
by coincidence. These studies, however,
were doomed to failure, and Oparin had
to make the following confession:
Unfortunately, however, the problem of the
origin of the cell is perhaps the most obscure
point in the whole study of the evolution of
organisms.29
Evolutionist followers of Oparin
tried to carry out experiments to solve
this problem. The best known experiment
was carried out by the American chemist
Alexander Oparin
Stanley Miller in 1953. Combining the gases he
alleged to have existed in the primordial
Earth's atmosphere in an experiment set-up, and adding energy to the
mixture, Miller synthesized several organic molecules (amino acids)
present in the structure of proteins.
Barely a few years had passed before it was revealed that this ex-
periment, which was then presented as an important step in the name
of evolution, was invalid, for the atmosphere used in the experiment
was very different from the real Earth conditions.30
After a long silence, Miller confessed that the atmosphere medium
he used was unrealistic.31
All the evolutionists' efforts throughout the twentieth century to
explain the origin of life ended in failure. The geochemist Jeffrey
Bada, from the San Diego Scripps Institute accepts this fact in an arti-

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 HARUN YAHYA

cle published in Earth magazine in 1998:

Today as we leave the twentieth century, we still face the biggest unsolved
problem that we had when we entered the twentieth century: How did life
originate on Earth?32

The Complex Structure of Life

The primary reason why the theory of evolution ended up in such
a great impasse regarding the origin of life is that even those living
organisms deemed to be the simplest have incredibly complex struc-
tures. The cell of a living thing is more complex than all of our man-
made technological products. Today, even in the most developed
laboratories of the world, a living cell cannot be produced by bring-
ing organic chemicals together.
The conditions required for the formation of a cell are too great in
quantity to be explained away by coincidences. The probability of
proteins, the building blocks of a cell, being synthesized coinciden-

One of the evolutionists’ gravest deceptions is the way they imagine

that life could have emerged spontaneously on what they refer to as
the primitive earth, represented in the picture above. They tried to
prove these claims with such studies as the Miller experiment. Yet they
again suffered defeat in the face of the scientific facts; The results ob-
tained in the 1970s proved that the atmosphere on what they describe
as the primitive earth was totally unsuited to life.

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 THE GOLDEN AGE

All information about living beings is

stored in the DNA molecule. This incredi-
bly efficient information storage method
alone is a clear evidence that life did not
come into being by chance, but has been
purposely designed, or, better to say, mar-
vellously created.

tally, is 1 in 10950 for an average protein made up of 500 amino acids.

In mathematics, a probability smaller than 1 over 1050 is considered to
be impossible in practical terms.
The DNA molecule, which is located in the nucleus of a cell and
which stores genetic information, is an incredible databank. If the in-
formation coded in DNA were written down, it would make a giant
library consisting of an estimated 900 volumes of encyclopedias con-
sisting of 500 pages each.
A very interesting dilemma emerges at this point: DNA can repli-
cate itself only with the help of some specialized proteins (enzymes).
However, the synthesis of these enzymes can be realized only by the
information coded in DNA. As they both depend on each other, they
have to exist at the same time for replication. This brings the scenario
that life originated by itself to a deadlock. Prof. Leslie Orgel, an evo-
lutionist of repute from the University of San Diego, California, con-
fesses this fact in the September 1994 issue of the Scientific American
magazine:
It is extremely improbable that proteins and nucleic acids, both of which are
structurally complex, arose spontaneously in the same place at the same
time. Yet it also seems impossible to have one without the other. And so, at
first glance, one might have to conclude that life could never, in fact, have
originated by chemical means.33

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 HARUN YAHYA

No doubt, if it is impossible for life to have originated from natural

causes, then it has to be accepted that life was "created" in a super-
natural way. This fact explicitly invalidates the theory of evolution,
whose main purpose is to deny creation.

Imaginary Mechanisms of Evolution

The second important point that negates Darwin's theory is that
both concepts put forward by the theory as "evolutionary mecha-
nisms" were understood to have, in reality, no evolutionary power.
Darwin based his evolution allegation entirely on the mechanism
of "natural selection." The importance he placed on this mechanism
was evident in the name of his book: The Origin of Species, By Means of
Natural Selection…
Natural selection holds that those living things that are stronger
and more suited to the natural conditions of their habitats will sur-
vive in the struggle for life. For example, in a deer herd under the
threat of attack by wild animals, those that can run faster will survive.
Therefore, the deer herd will be comprised of faster and stronger in-
dividuals. However, unquestionably, this mechanism will not cause
deer to evolve and transform themselves into another living species,
for instance, horses.
Therefore, the mechanism of natural selection has no evolutionary
power. Darwin was also aware of this fact and had to state this in his
book The Origin of Species:
Natural selection can do nothing until favourable individual differences or
variations occur.34

Lamarck's Impact
So, how could these "favorable variations" occur? Darwin tried to
answer this question from the standpoint of the primitive under-
standing of science at that time. According to the French biologist
Chevalier de Lamarck (1744-1829), who lived before Darwin, living
creatures passed on the traits they acquired during their lifetime to
the next generation. He asserted that these traits, which accumulated

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 THE GOLDEN AGE

from one generation to another, caused new

species to be formed. For instance, he
claimed that giraffes evolved from an-
telopes; as they struggled to eat the leaves
of high trees, their necks were extended
from generation to generation.
Darwin also gave similar examples. In
his book The Origin of Species, for in-
stance, he said that some bears going
into water to find food transformed
themselves into whales over time.35
However, the laws of inheritance
discovered by Gregor Mendel (1822-
84) and verified by the science of ge- French biologist Lamarck

netics, which flourished in the

twentieth century, utterly demolished the legend that acquired traits
were passed on to subsequent generations. Thus, natural selection fell
out of favor as an evolutionary mechanism.

Neo-Darwinism and Mutations

In order to find a solution, Darwinists advanced the "Modern
Synthetic Theory," or as it is more commonly known, Neo-
Darwinism, at the end of the 1930's. Neo-Darwinism added muta-
tions, which are distortions formed in the genes of living beings due
to such external factors as radiation or replication errors, as the "cause
of favorable variations" in addition to natural mutation.
Today, the model that stands for evolution in the world is Neo-
Darwinism. The theory maintains that millions of living beings
formed as a result of a process whereby numerous complex organs of
these organisms (e.g., ears, eyes, lungs, and wings) underwent "mu-
tations," that is, genetic disorders. Yet, there is an outright scientific
fact that totally undermines this theory: Mutations do not cause liv-
ing beings to develop; on the contrary, they are always harmful.
The reason for this is very simple: DNA has a very complex struc-

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 HARUN YAHYA

Accidental mutations
develop into defects
in humans as well as
other living beings.
The Chernobyl disas-
ter is an eye-opener
for the effects of mu-
tations

ture, and random effects can only harm it. The American geneticist
B.G. Ranganathan explains this as follows:
First, genuine mutations are very rare in nature. Secondly, most mutations
are harmful since they are random, rather than orderly changes in the struc-
ture of genes; any random change in a highly ordered system will be for the
worse, not for the better. For example, if an earthquake were to shake a highly
ordered structure such as a building, there would be a random change in the
framework of the building which, in all probability, would not be an im-
provement.36
Not surprisingly, no mutation example, which is useful, that is,
which is observed to develop the genetic code, has been observed so
far. All mutations have proved to be harmful. It was understood that
mutation, which is presented as an "evolutionary mechanism," is ac-
tually a genetic occurrence that harms living things, and leaves them
disabled. (The most common effect of mutation on human beings is
cancer.) Of course, a destructive mechanism cannot be an "evolution-
ary mechanism." Natural selection, on the other hand, "can do noth-
ing by itself," as Darwin also accepted. This fact shows us that there
is no "evolutionary mechanism" in nature. Since no evolutionary
mechanism exists, no such any imaginary process called "evolution"
could have taken place.

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 THE GOLDEN AGE

The 150-200-million-
year-old fossil dragon-
fly (Jurassic-Recent
age) is no different
from specimens living
today.

The Fossil Record: No Sign of

Intermediate Forms
The clearest evidence that the scenario suggested by the theory of
evolution did not take place is the fossil record.
According to this theory, every living species has sprung from a
predecessor. A previously existing species turned into something else
over time and all species have come into being in this way. In other
words, this transformation proceeds gradually over millions of years.
Had this been the case, numerous intermediary species should
have existed and lived within this long transformation period.
For instance, some half-fish/half-reptiles should have lived in the
past which had acquired some reptilian traits in addition to the fish
traits they already had. Or there should have existed some reptile-
birds, which acquired some bird traits in addition to the reptilian
traits they already had. Since these would be in a transitional phase,
they should be disabled, defective, crippled living beings.
Evolutionists refer to these imaginary creatures, which they believe to
have lived in the past, as "transitional forms."
If such animals ever really existed, there should be millions and
even billions of them in number and variety. More importantly, the

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 HARUN YAHYA

remains of these strange creatures should be present in the fossil

record. In The Origin of Species, Darwin explained:
If my theory be true, numberless intermediate varieties, linking most closely
all of the species of the same group together must assuredly have existed....
Consequently, evidence of their former existence could be found only
amongst fossil remains.37

Darwin's Hopes Shattered

However, although evolutionists have been making strenuous ef-
forts to find fossils since the middle of the nineteenth century all over
the world, no transitional forms have yet been uncovered. All of the
fossils, contrary to the evolutionists' expectations, show that life ap-
peared on Earth all of a sudden and fully-formed.
One famous British paleontologist, Derek V. Ager, admits this fact,

The theory of evolution claims that living species gradually evolved from one
another. The fossil record, however, explicitly falsifies this claim. For example,
in the Cambrian Period, some 550 million years ago, dozens of totally distinct
living species suddenly emerged. These living beings depicted in the above
picture have very complex structures. This fact, referred to as the "Cambrian
Explosion" in scientific literature, is plain evidence of creation.

105
 THE GOLDEN AGE

even though he is an evolutionist:

The point emerges that if we examine the fossil record in detail, whether at
the level of orders or of species, we find – over and over again – not gradual
evolution, but the sudden explosion of one group at the expense of another.38
This means that in the fossil record, all living species suddenly
emerge as fully formed, without any intermediate forms in between.
This is just the opposite of Darwin's assumptions. Also, this is very
strong evidence that all living things are created. The only explana-
tion of a living species emerging suddenly and complete in every de-
tail without any evolutionary ancestor is that it was created. This fact
is admitted also by the widely known evolutionist biologist Douglas
Futuyma:
Creation and evolution, between them, exhaust the possible explanations for
the origin of living things. Organisms either appeared on the earth fully de-
veloped or they did not. If they did not, they must have developed from pre-
existing species by some process of modification. If they did appear in a fully
developed state, they must indeed have been created by some omnipotent in-
telligence.39
Fossils show that living beings emerged fully developed and in a
perfect state on the earth. That means that "the origin of species," con-
trary to Darwin's supposition, is not evolution, but creation.

The Tale of Human Evolution

The subject most often brought up by advocates of the theory of
evolution is the subject of the origin of man. The Darwinist claim
holds that modern man evolved from ape-like creatures. During this
alleged evolutionary process, which is supposed to have started 4-5
million years ago, some "transitional forms" between modern man
and his ancestors are supposed to have existed. According to this
completely imaginary scenario, four basic "categories" are listed:
1. Australopithecus
2. Homo habilis
3. Homo erectus
4. Homo sapiens

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 HARUN YAHYA

Evolutionists call man's so-called first ape-like ancestors

Australopithecus, which means "South African ape." These living be-
ings are actually nothing but an old ape species that has become ex-
tinct. Extensive research done on various Australopithecus specimens
by two world famous anatomists from England and the USA, namely,
Lord Solly Zuckerman and Prof. Charles Oxnard, shows that these
apes belonged to an ordinary ape species that became extinct and
bore no resemblance to humans.40
Evolutionists classify the next stage of human evolution as "homo,"
that is "man." According to their claim, the living beings in the Homo
series are more developed than Australopithecus. Evolutionists devise
a fanciful evolution scheme by arranging different fossils of these
creatures in a particular order. This scheme is imaginary because it
has never been proved that there is an evolutionary relation between
these different classes. Ernst Mayr, one of the twentieth century's
most important evolutionists, contends in his book One Long
Argument that "particularly historical [puzzles] such as the origin of
life or of Homo sapiens, are extremely difficult and may even resist a
final, satisfying explanation."41
By outlining the link chain as Australopithecus > Homo habilis >
Homo erectus > Homo sapiens, evolutionists imply that each of these
species is one another's ancestor. However, recent findings of pale-
oanthropologists have revealed that Australopithecus, Homo habilis,
and Homo erectus lived at different parts of the world at the same
time.42
Moreover, a certain segment of humans classified as Homo erectus
have lived up until very modern times. Homo sapiens neandarthalensis
and Homo sapiens sapiens (modern man) co-existed in the same re-
gion.43
This situation apparently indicates the invalidity of the claim that
they are ancestors of one another. A paleontologist from Harvard
University, Stephen Jay Gould, explains this deadlock of the theory of
evolution, although he is an evolutionist himself:
What has become of our ladder if there are three coexisting lineages of ho-
minids (A. africanus, the robust australopithecines, and H. habilis), none

107
 THE GOLDEN AGE

clearly derived from another? Moreover, none of the

three display any evolutionary trends during their
tenure on earth.44
Put briefly, the scenario of
human evolution, which is
"upheld" with the help of var-
ious drawings of some "half
ape, half human" creatures ap-
pearing in the media and
L S E
course books, that is, frankly,
by means of propaganda, is FA
nothing but a tale with no sci-
entific foundation.
Lord Solly Zuckerman,
one of the most famous and
respected scientists in the
U.K., who carried out research
on this subject for years and
studied Australopithecus fossils
for 15 years, finally concluded,
Evolutionist newspapers and maga-
despite being an evolutionist
zines often print pictures of primitive
himself, that there is, in fact, no man. The only available source for
such family tree branching out these pictures is the imagination of
the artist. Evolutionary theory has
from ape-like creatures to man.
been so dented by scientific data that
Zuckerman also made an in- today we see less and less of it in the
teresting "spectrum of science" serious press

ranging from those he consid-

ered scientific to those he considered unscientific. According to
Zuckerman's spectrum, the most "scientific"—that is, depending on
concrete data—fields of science are chemistry and physics. After
them come the biological sciences and then the social sciences. At the
far end of the spectrum, which is the part considered to be most "un-
scientific," are "extra-sensory perception"—concepts such as telepa-
thy and sixth sense—and finally "human evolution." Zuckerman
explains his reasoning:

108
 HARUN YAHYA

We then move right off the register of objective truth into those fields of pre-
sumed biological science, like extrasensory perception or the interpretation of
man's fossil history, where to the faithful [evolutionist] anything is possible
– and where the ardent believer [in evolution] is sometimes able to believe
several contradictory things at the same time.45
The tale of human evolution boils down to nothing but the preju-
diced interpretations of some fossils unearthed by certain people,
who blindly adhere to their theory.

Technology in the Eye and the Ear

Another subject that remains unanswered by evolutionary theory
is the excellent quality of perception in the eye and the ear.
Before passing on to the subject of the eye, let us briefly answer the
question of how we see. Light rays coming from an object fall oppo-
sitely on the eye's retina. Here, these light rays are transmitted into
electric signals by cells and reach a tiny spot at the back of the brain,
the "center of vision." These electric signals are perceived in this cen-
ter as an image after a series of processes. With this technical back-
ground, let us do some thinking.
The brain is insulated from light. That means that its inside is com-
pletely dark, and that no light reaches the place where it is located.
Thus, the "center of vision" is never touched by light and may even be
the darkest place you have ever known. However, you observe a lu-
minous, bright world in this pitch darkness.
The image formed in the eye is so sharp and distinct that even the
technology of the twentieth century has not been able to attain it. For
instance, look at the book you are reading, your hands with which
you are holding it, and then lift your head and look around you. Have
you ever seen such a sharp and distinct image as this one at any other
place? Even the most developed television screen produced by the
greatest television producer in the world cannot provide such a sharp
image for you. This is a three-dimensional, colored, and extremely
sharp image. For more than 100 years, thousands of engineers have
been trying to achieve this sharpness. Factories, huge premises were
established, much research has been done, plans and designs have

109
 THE GOLDEN AGE

been made for this purpose. Again, look at a TV screen and the book
you hold in your hands. You will see that there is a big difference in
sharpness and distinction. Moreover, the TV screen shows you a two-
dimensional image, whereas with your eyes, you watch a three-di-
mensional perspective with depth.
For many years, tens of thousands of engineers have tried to make
a three-dimensional TV and achieve the vision quality of the eye. Yes,
they have made a three-dimensional television system, but it is not
possible to watch it without putting on special 3-D glasses; moreover,
it is only an artificial three-dimension. The background is more
blurred, the foreground appears like a paper setting. Never has it
been possible to produce a sharp and distinct vision like that of the
eye. In both the camera and the television, there is a loss of image
quality.
Evolutionists claim that the mechanism producing this sharp and
distinct image has been formed by chance. Now, if somebody told
you that the television in your room was formed as a result of chance,
that all of its atoms just happened to come together and make up this
device that produces an image, what would you think? How can
atoms do what thousands of people cannot?
If a device producing a more primitive image than the eye could
not have been formed by chance, then it is very evident that the eye
and the image seen by the eye could not have been formed by chance.
The same situation applies to the ear. The outer ear picks up the avail-
able sounds by the auricle and directs them to the middle ear, the
middle ear transmits the sound vibrations by intensifying them, and
the inner ear sends these vibrations to the brain by translating them
into electric signals. Just as with the eye, the act of hearing finalizes in
the center of hearing in the brain.
The situation in the eye is also true for the ear. That is, the brain is
insulated from sound just as it is from light. It does not let any sound
in. Therefore, no matter how noisy is the outside, the inside of the
brain is completely silent. Nevertheless, the sharpest sounds are per-
ceived in the brain. In your completely silent brain, you listen to sym-
phonies, and hear all of the noises in a crowded place. However, were

110
 HARUN YAHYA

Compared to cameras and sound

recording machines, the eye and ear
are much more complex, much
more successful and possess far
superior designs to these products
of high technology.

the sound level in your brain was measured by a precise device at

that moment, complete silence would be found to be prevailing there.
As is the case with imagery, decades of effort have been spent in
trying to generate and reproduce sound that is faithful to the original.
The results of these efforts are sound recorders, high-fidelity systems,
and systems for sensing sound. Despite all of this technology and the
thousands of engineers and experts who have been working on this
endeavor, no sound has yet been obtained that has the same sharp-
ness and clarity as the sound perceived by the ear. Think of the high-
est-quality hi-fi systems produced by the largest company in the
music industry. Even in these devices, when sound is recorded some
of it is lost; or when you turn on a hi-fi you always hear a hissing
sound before the music starts. However, the sounds that are the prod-
ucts of the human body's technology are extremely sharp and clear. A
human ear never perceives a sound accompanied by a hissing sound
or with atmospherics as does a hi-fi; rather, it perceives sound exactly
as it is, sharp and clear. This is the way it has been since the creation
of man.
So far, no man-made visual or recording apparatus has been as
sensitive and successful in perceiving sensory data as are the eye and

111
 Movement

Thought Touch

Speech
Sight

Taste
Hearing
Smell

We live our whole life in our brains. People we see, flowers we

smell, music we hear, fruit we taste, the moisture we feel with
our hands-all these are impressions that become “reality” in the
brain. But no colors, voices or pictures exist there. We live in an
environment of electrical impulses. This is no theory, but the
scientific explanation of how we perceive the outside world

112
 HARUN YAHYA

the ear. However, as far as seeing and hearing are concerned, a far
greater truth lies beyond all this.

To Whom Does the Consciousness That

Sees and Hears within the Brain Belong?
Who watches an alluring world in the brain, listens to symphonies
and the twittering of birds, and smells the rose?
The stimulations coming from a person's eyes, ears, and nose
travel to the brain as electro-chemical nerve impulses. In biology,
physiology, and biochemistry books, you can find many details about
how this image forms in the brain. However, you will never come
across the most important fact: Who perceives these electro-chemical
nerve impulses as images, sounds, odors, and sensory events in the
brain? There is a consciousness in the brain that perceives all this
without feeling any need for an eye, an ear, and a nose. To whom does
this consciousness belong? Of course it does not belong to the nerves,
the fat layer, and neurons comprising the brain. This is why
Darwinist-materialists, who believe that everything is comprised of
matter, cannot answer these questions.
For this consciousness is the spirit created by Allah, which needs
neither the eye to watch the images nor the ear to hear the sounds.
Furthermore, it does not need the brain to think.
Everyone who reads this explicit and scientific fact should ponder
on Almighty Allah, and fear and seek refuge in Him, for He squeezes
the entire universe in a pitch-dark place of a few cubic centimeters in
a three-dimensional, colored, shadowy, and luminous form.

A Materialist Faith
The information we have presented so far shows us that the the-
ory of evolution is a incompatible with scientific findings. The the-
ory's claim regarding the origin of life is inconsistent with science, the
evolutionary mechanisms it proposes have no evolutionary power,
and fossils demonstrate that the required intermediate forms have
never existed. So, it certainly follows that the theory of evolution

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 THE GOLDEN AGE

Someone who looks at a seal perceives it in his brain. Similarly, it is in his brain
that he investigates and examines the features of that creature he sees in his
brain. The things he learns reveal to him the prefection of Allah's creation and
the superiority of His wisdom and knowledge.

should be pushed aside as an unscientific idea. This is how many

ideas, such as the Earth-centered universe model, have been taken
out of the agenda of science throughout history.
However, the theory of evolution is kept on the agenda of science.
Some people even try to represent criticisms directed against it as an
"attack on science." Why?
The reason is that this theory is an indispensable dogmatic belief
for some circles. These circles are blindly devoted to materialist phi-
losophy and adopt Darwinism because it is the only materialist ex-
planation that can be put forward to explain the workings of nature.
Interestingly enough, they also confess this fact from time to time.
A well-known geneticist and an outspoken evolutionist, Richard C.
Lewontin from Harvard University, confesses that he is "first and
foremost a materialist and then a scientist":
It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us ac-
cept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary,
that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes to create an

114
 HARUN YAHYA

apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material expla-

nations, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how mystifying to the
uninitiated. Moreover, that materialism is absolute, so we cannot allow a
Divine Foot in the door.46
These are explicit statements that Darwinism is a dogma kept alive
just for the sake of adherence to materialism. This dogma maintains
that there is no being save matter. Therefore, it argues that inanimate,
unconscious matter created life. It insists that millions of different liv-
ing species (e.g., birds, fish, giraffes, tigers, insects, trees, flowers,
whales, and human beings) originated as a result of the interactions
between matter such as pouring rain, lightning flashes, and so on, out
of inanimate matter. This is a precept contrary both to reason and sci-
ence. Yet Darwinists continue to defend it just so as "not to allow a
Divine Foot in the door."
Anyone who does not look at the origin of living beings with a ma-
terialist prejudice will see this evident truth: All living beings are
works of a Creator, Who is All-Powerful, All-Wise, and All-Knowing.
This Creator is Allah, Who created the whole universe from non-ex-
istence, designed it in the most perfect form, and fashioned all living
beings.

The Theory of Evolution is the Most

Potent Spell in the World
Anyone free of prejudice and the influence of any particular ide-
ology, who uses only his or her reason and logic, will clearly under-
stand that belief in the theory of evolution, which brings to mind the
superstitions of societies with no knowledge of science or civilization,
is quite impossible.
As explained above, those who believe in the theory of evolution
think that a few atoms and molecules thrown into a huge vat could
produce thinking, reasoning professors and university students; such
scientists as Einstein and Galileo; such artists as Humphrey Bogart,
Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti; as well as antelopes, lemon
trees, and carnations. Moreover, as the scientists and professors who

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 THE GOLDEN AGE

believe in this nonsense are educated people, it is quite justifiable to

speak of this theory as "the most potent spell in history." Never before
has any other belief or idea so taken away peoples' powers of reason,
refused to allow them to think intelligently and logically and hidden
the truth from them as if they had been blindfolded. This is an even
worse and unbelievable blindness than the Egyptians worshipping
the Sun God Ra, totem worship in some parts of Africa, the people of
Saba worshipping the Sun, the tribe of Prophet Ibrahim (as) worship-
ping idols they had made with their own hands, or the people of the
Prophet Musa (as) worshipping the Golden Calf.
In fact, Allah has pointed to this lack of reason in the Qur'an. In
many verse, He reveals in many verses that some peoples' minds will
be closed and that they will be powerless to see the truth. Some of
these verses are as follows:
As for those who do not believe, it makes no difference to them
whether you warn them or do not warn them, they will not believe.
Allah has sealed up their hearts and hearing and over their eyes is
a blindfold. They will have a terrible punishment. (Surat al-Baqara:
6-7)
… They have hearts with which they do not understand. They have
eyes with which they do not see. They have ears with which they do
not hear. Such people are like cattle. No, they are even further
astray! They are the unaware. (Surat al-A'raf: 179)
Even if We opened up to them a door into heaven, and they spent
the day ascending through it, they would only say: "Our eyesight is
befuddled! Or rather we have been put under a spell!" (Surat al-
Hijr: 14-15)
Words cannot express just how astonishing it is that this spell
should hold such a wide community in thrall, keep people from the
truth, and not be broken for 150 years. It is understandable that one
or a few people might believe in impossible scenarios and claims full
of stupidity and illogicality. However, "magic" is the only possible ex-
planation for people from all over the world believing that uncon-

116
 HARUN YAHYA

scious and lifeless atoms suddenly decided to come together and

form a universe that functions with a flawless system of organization,
discipline, reason, and consciousness; a planet named Earth with all
of its features so perfectly suited to life; and living things full of
countless complex systems.
In fact, the Qur'an relates the incident of Prophet Musa and
Pharaoh to show that some people who support atheistic philoso-
phies actually influence others by magic. When Pharaoh was told
about the true religion, he told Prophet Musa to meet with his own
magicians. When Musa did so, he told them to demonstrate their abil-
ities first. The verses continue:
He said: "You throw." And when they threw, they cast a spell on the
people's eyes and caused them to feel great fear of them. They pro-
duced an extremely powerful magic. (Surat al-A'raf: 116)
As we have seen, Pharaoh's magicians were able to deceive every-
one, apart from Musa and those who believed in him. However, his
evidence broke the spell, or "swallowed up what they had forged," as
the verse puts it.
We revealed to Musa, "Throw down your staff." And it immediately
swallowed up what they had forged. So the Truth took place and
what they did was shown to be false. (Surat al-A'raf: 117-119)
As we can see, when people realized that a spell had been cast
upon them and that what they saw was just an illusion, Pharaoh's
magicians lost all credibility. In the present day too, unless those who,
under the influence of a similar spell, believe in these ridiculous
claims under their scientific disguise and spend their lives defending
them, abandon their superstitious beliefs, they also will be humiliated
when the full truth emerges and the spell is broken. In fact, Malcolm
Muggeridge, an atheist philosopher and supporter of evolution, ad-
mitted he was worried by just that prospect:
I myself am convinced that the theory of evolution, especially the extent to
which it's been applied, will be one of the great jokes in the history books in
the future. Posterity will marvel that so very flimsy and dubious an hypoth-

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esis could be accepted with the incredible credulity that it has.47

That future is not far off: On the contrary, people will soon see that
"chance" is not a deity, and will look back on the theory of evolution
as the worst deceit and the most terrible spell in the world. That spell
is already rapidly beginning to be lifted from the shoulders of people
all over the world. Many people who see its true face are wondering
with amazement how they could ever have been taken in by it.

They said,
"Glory be to You!
We have
no knowledge except what
You have taught us.
You are the All-Knowing,
the All-Wise."
(Surat al-Baqara: 32)

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NOTES
1. Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 17.
2. Ibn Majah.
3. Muslim.
4. Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan, p. 16.
5. At-Tabarani.
6. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar,
p. 23.
7. Ibid., p. 45.
8. Ibn Majah.
9. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 24.
10. Ibid., p. 23.
11. Mukhtasar Tazkirah Qurtubi, p. 457.
12. Ibid., p. 462.
13. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 26.
14. Mukhtasar Tazkirah Qurtubi, p. 464.
15. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rasul Barzanji , Al-Isha‘ah li-ashrat al-sa‘ah, p. 245.
16. Abu Dawud.
17. Ad-Dani.
18. Imam Rabbani, Mektubat Imam Rabbani (Letters of Imam Rabbani), vol. 1,
no. 251.
19. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 23.
20. Ibid., p. 23.
21. Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan, p. 11.
22. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 44.
23. Ismail Mutlu, Kiyamet Alametleri (The Signs of the Last Day), Mutlu
Publications, Istanbul, 1999, p. 163.
24. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rasul Barzanji , Al-Isha‘ah li-ashrat al-sa‘ah, pp. 186-
187.
25. Bukhari, vol. 8, no. 146.
26. Ahmad Diya’al-Din al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith, vol. 2, no. 498.
27. Ibid., vol. 1, no. 176.
28. Sidney Fox, Klaus Dose, Molecular Evolution and The Origin of Life, W.H.
Freeman and Company, San Francisco, 1972, p. 4.
29. Alexander I. Oparin, Origin of Life, Dover Publications, NewYork, 1936, 1953
(reprint), p. 196.
30. "New Evidence on Evolution of Early Atmosphere and Life", Bulletin of the
American Meteorological Society, vol 63, November 1982, p. 1328-1330.

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 THE GOLDEN AGE

31. Stanley Miller, Molecular Evolution of Life: Current Status of the Prebiotic
Synthesis of Small Molecules, 1986, p. 7.
32. Jeffrey Bada, Earth, February 1998, p. 40
33. Leslie E. Orgel, "The Origin of Life on Earth", Scientific American, vol. 271,
October 1994, p. 78.
34. Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, The
Modern Library, New York, p. 127.
35. Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species: A Facsimile of the First Edition, Harvard
University Press, 1964, p. 184.
36. B. G. Ranganathan, Origins?, Pennsylvania: The Banner Of Truth Trust, 1988,
p. 7.
37. Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species: A Facsimile of the First Edition, Harvard
University Press, 1964, p. 179.
38. Derek A. Ager, "The Nature of the Fossil Record", Proceedings of the British
Geological Association, vol 87, 1976, p. 133.
39. Douglas J. Futuyma, Science on Trial, Pantheon Books, New York, 1983. p.
197.
40. Solly Zuckerman, Beyond The Ivory Tower, Toplinger Publications, New York,
1970, pp. 75-94; Charles E. Oxnard, "The Place of Australopithecines in Human
Evolution: Grounds for Doubt", Nature, vol 258, p. 389.
41. "Could science be brought to an end by scientists' belief that they have final an-
swers or by society's reluctance to pay the bills?" Scientific American, December
1992, p. 20.
42. Alan Walker, Science, vol. 207, 7 March 1980, p. 1103; A. J. Kelso, Physical
Antropology, 1st ed., J. B. Lipincott Co., New York, 1970, p. 221; M. D. Leakey,
Olduvai Gorge, vol. 3, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1971, p. 272.
43. Jeffrey Kluger, "Not So Extinct After All: The Primitive Homo Erectus May Have
Survived Long Enough To Coexist With Modern Humans," Time, 23 December
1996.
44. S. J. Gould, Natural History, vol. 85, 1976, p. 30.
45. Solly Zuckerman, Beyond The Ivory Tower, p. 19.
46. Richard Lewontin, "The Demon-Haunted World," The New York Review of
Books, January 9, 1997, p. 28.
47. Malcolm Muggeridge, The End of Christendom, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1980, p. 43.

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